Population and Ecology of Sarus Crane (Grus antigone, Linnaeus 1758) in Northern Region of Rupandehi District
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Faculty of Environmental Science
Abstract
The present study was carried out on Sarus Crane (Grus antigone antigone) to estimate
population of Sarus crane in the Northern region of Rupandehi district, to know
breeding success and nest ecology of Sarus in the study area. This survey was carried
out in August to October, 2013.Village road was taken as transect. Field observation
and informal discussion was conducted to assess population status to know breeding
success and assess nest ecology. Nests were visited and measured with a tape without
disturbing eggs.
Survey was carried out in 18 VDCs. 95 individuals of Sarus crane were found among
which 29 were breeding pairs, 11 were observed in flock and 3 as single individuals and
23 were juveniles. Mean encounter rate of the Sarus was about 9 individuals per 7 sq.
km. The maximum flock size was 11 individuals.
Hatching success rate was 63.88 chicks per 100 laid eggs and 127.77 individuals per
100 nests. Among the active nests monitored, at least one egg was found in 18 out of 19
nests. So nesting success was 94.73 %.
Among the 19 nests, 42.10 % were observed in wetland and 5.26 % in agricultural land
and 52.6 % were in the interface of wetland and agricultural land. Average area of nest
was 2.76 m
2
(n=19).