HABITAT ANALYSIS,POPULATION ESTIMATES AND NESTING ECOLOGY OF THREE FALCON SPECIES IN DISTRICT CHAKWAL

Tariq Mehmood,* Riaz Hussain, Muhammad Rais,Iftekhar Hussain, Maqsood Anwar and Muhammad Sajid Nadeem

Department of Wildlife ManagementPir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi

INTRODUCTION

FALCON

DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY

FAMILYFalconidae

ORDER FALCONIFORMES

GENUSFALCO

SPECIES STATUS

• “Falcon” (L) “ falx ” • “sickle" Birds are named due to• curved beak or talons

(Webster and McKechnie, 1983).

• shape of their spreading wings (Harper, 2001).

Species in the world 37 species 17 sub-species,

(Collar, et al., 1994). Pakistan, 09 species reported (Roberts, 1991; Ahmed, 2003 and Naoroji, 2006)

SPECIES AND THEIR STATUS IN PAKISTA Roberts (1991), Ahmed, (2003) and Naoroji, (2006)

Common Name Scientific Name Status Occurrence

Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni Vagrant Aaround Quetta (Balochistan), Dera Ismail Khan (KPK) and Murree hills Pnjab).

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Resident and breeder

Balochistan areas; Zhob, Chaman, Quetta, Sibi, Kalat and Chaghi, Dera Ghazi Khan and salt range foothill zone in Punjab, winter visitor throughout the KPK, also seen in Gilgit and Bultistan.

Saker Falcon Falco cherrug Winter visitor Balochistan, areas,Indus delta in Sindh. Attock districts, seen around Rawal lake (ISB), not recorded in the Potohar plateau, also a winter visitor throughout KP K.

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Resident and winter visitor

Coastal areas of Karachi, found in Kirther hills and Jacobabad , resident and breeds in Thal desert, Kohat and Chitral.

Merlin Falco columbarius Winter passer migrant

Ziarat and Loralai (Balochistan), Mirpur Sakro in Thata (Sindh), Jhang, Taunsa barrage, Raheem Yar Khan(Punjab), itor to Kohat (Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa) and Gilgit.

Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo winter visitor, summer breeder

Karachi, Sukkur and Mirpur (Sindh), coastal area of Balochistan, hilly areas of Rawalpindi (Punjab) and winter visitor to Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu (KPK).

Red-headed Merlin Falco chicquera Rare Resident Tharparkar and Cholistan. Rawal Lake (Islamabad), Mianwali, Lal Sohanra NP (Punjab), Kohat and Peshawar KPK.

Laggar Falcon Falco jugger Rare Resident Southern Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and in the lower plain areas of KPK..

Sooty Falcon Falco concolor Summer visitor occurs as a summer breeder along the Makran coast in the province of Balochistan

OBJECTIVES

• HABITAT ANALYSIS• POPULATION ESTIMATION• NESTING ECOLOGY

STUDY AREA

Fig. 1 Map of Punjab province showing study district Chakwal

CHAKWAL

• Geographical Coordinates 32° 56' 0" N 72° 52' 0" E

• Area 6524 Sq.km.

• Administrative DivisionTehsil Chakwal Tehsil TalagangTehsil Choa Saiden Shah Tehsil Kallar Kahar

• Ecosystem type.Salt Range (South)Potohar Range(North)

Temperature and Rain fall during study period (May2009 to June 2010)

(SAWCRI Chakwal)

Average temperature 14.25 to 30.77 °C

Average rainfall 0.00 mm (Dec, 2009) to 47.8mm (June, 2010)

• Crops.wheat, peanut, maize, oat, sorgum, millet and barley.

STUDY DESIGN

• Preliminary surveys• Selection of study sites (8 Sites)• Area of each study site 2x2km• Data collected fortnightly

Table2.Details of eight selected study sites

Study

Site No.

Name of Place GPS Location

Elevation

(m)

Habitat

Type

Water Source

I

Dhoke Chatal

(Chakwal)

N 32º58' 0.00"E 72º55' 26.5"

503

*Mixed

Barsati nala

II Dhoke Wadhan(Chakwal)

N 32º03' 27.17"E 72º57' 41.07"

515

Open cultivated

fields

Barsati nala

III Punjain(Chakwal)

N 32º53'38.12"E 72º59 50.62"

473

Mixed

Barsati nala

IV Jabairpur(Chakwal)

N 32º55'09.2"E 72º53'34.2"

512

Mixed

Rain water pond and Barsati nala

V Karangli hill(Choa Saiden

Shah)

N 32º45'35.3"E 73º01'48.8"

1092

Hilly and Forest

Barsati nala And natural springs

VI Chumbi (Kallar Kahar)

N 32º 46'14.9"E 72º 43'12.3"

638

Mixed

Barsati nala and natural springs

VII Chinji(Talagang)

N 32º 42'29.5"E 72º22'17.2"

697

Mixed

Rain water ponds

VIII Chaman Samsal(Tlagang)

N 32º 57'03.0"E 72º 18'48.4"

468 Open, low vegetation.

Rain water ponds

Fig.2 Satellite map showing location of eight selected study sites

METHODOLOGY1. HABITAT ANALYSIS

Vegetation Study (trees, shrubs, herbs) 2km

• Point Centered Quarter method 800m

(Cottom and Cartis, 1956). 400m

800m

• Number of points on each transect line--- 07 • Distance between points ----- 250m• Selected points on each transect line ----- 03

• Shrubs and Herbs: Quadrate Method (Emlen 1956; Schemnitz, 1980).

For shrub species quadrate 4m x 4m For herb species quadrate 1m x 1m Number of quadrates 06

2. POPULATION ESTIMATION

• Visual Observation Method.

• Line transects traveled regularly by foot and by motor bike following Kochart (1986), Milsap and LeFranc (1988).

• Binocular (Olympus, 10 x 50 DPSI)

• Digital camera (Sony 7.2 M.p and Sony Ericsson mobile phone 8.1 M.p)

• Formula for Population density of the individual falcon species ∑ n

D = 2W x L

• Statistical AnalysisOne way ANOVA (population density of the falcon species)

3. NESTING ECOLOGY• Search for nests by direct observation • Active or inactive• Nests probable to be occupied by three falcon

species

RESULTS

Table3 Density, frequency, relative dominance and IVI of the tree species

Site No. Sr. No Scientific name Density/ ha

Relative Density

Frequency Relative Frequency

Relative Dominance

IVI

I 1 Acacia modesta 0.40 4.13 16.66 6.25 2.89 13.272 Acacia nilotica 3.63 37.53 100.0 37.49 43.47 118.493 Zizyphus mauritiana 4.44 45.91 100.0 37.49 39.13 122.534 Dalbergia sissoo 0.80 8.27 33.33 12.49 13.04 33.805 Tamarix aphylla 0.40 4.13 16.66 6.25 1.44 11.82

Mean 1.93±0.87 19.99 ±8.99 53.33±19.29 19.99±7.23 19.99±8.95 59.98±25.02II 6 Acacia modesta 1.03 12.50 50.00 16.66 1.45 30.61

7 Acacia nilotica 3.09 37.50 100.00 33.33 7.27 78.108 Zizyphus mauritiana 2.40 29.16 88.33 27.78 87.27 144.239 Dalbergia sissoo 1.03 12.50 33.33 11.11 2.90 26.51

10 Melia azedarach 0.69 8.33 33.33 11.11 1.09 20.53Mean 1.64±0.46 19.99±5.65 60.99±14.0 19.99±4.51 19.99±16.85 59.99±23.42

III 11 Acacia modesta 0.84 8.32 33.33 12.50 5.55 26.3712 Acacia nilotica 4.20 41.58 83.33 33.12 55.55 130.2513 Zizyphus mauritiana 3.37 33.33 100.0 37.50 27.77 98.6014 Eucalyptus globules 0.42 4.16 16.66 6.24 2.77 13.1715 Tamarix aphylla 0.84 8.31 16.66 6.24 4.16 18.7116 Melia azedarach 0.42 4.16 16.66 6.24 4.16 14.56

Mean 1.68±0.67 16.64±6.70 44.44±15.31 16.97±5.90 16.66±8.68 50.27±20.77IV 17 Acacia modesta 1.65 20.88 50.00 18.75 15.00 54.63

18 Acacia nilotica 2.30 29.16 88.33 31.25 50.00 110.4119 Zizyphus mauritiana 3.29 41.66 100.00 37.50 41.66 120.8220 Morus alba 0.33 4.17 16.66 6.25 4.66 15.4221 Eucalyptus globulus 0.33 4.17 16.66 6.25 5.00 15.42

Mean 1.58±0.57 20.0±7.26 54.33±17.46 20.0±6.37 23.26±9.49 63.34±22.56

Density, frequency, relative dominance and IVI of the tree species at different study sites in district Chakwal.

Site No.

Sr. No

Scientific name

Density/

ha

Relative Density

Frequency

Relative

Frequency

Relative

Dominance

IVI

V 22 Acacia modesta 13.83 58.35 100.00 42.86 47.90 149.1123 Acacia nilotica 2.96 12.50 50.00 21.43 17.96 51.8924 Dalbergia sissoo 0.99 4.17 16.66 7.14 4.79 16.1025 Eucalyptus globulus 0.99 4.17 16.66 7.14 5.38 16.6926 Melia azedarach 0.99 4.17 16.66 7.14 17.96 292727 Olea ferruginea 3.95 16.66 33.33 14.28 5.98 36.92

Mean 3.95±2.04 16.67±8.60 38.88±13.38 16.66±5.73 16.66±6.73 49.99±20.56VI 28 Acacia modesta 1.97 24.93 83.33 26.32 13.89 65.14

29 Acacia nilotica 2.96 37.46 100.0 31.58 41.67 110.6430 Zizyphus mauritiana 0.33 4.18 16.66 5.26 2.78 12.2231 Dalbergia sissoo 1.65 20.88 66.66 21.05 27.78 69.7132 Eucalyptus globulus 0.33 4.18 16.66 5.26 4.17 13.6133 Melia azedarach 0.66 8.35 33.33 10.53 9.72 28.60

Mean 1.31±0.43 16.66±5.47 52.77±14.54 16.66±4.59 16.66±6.20 49.98±15.81VII 34 Acacia modesta 2.40 37.50 100.0 37.08 27.03 101.60

35 Acacia nilotica 1.87 29.21 66.66 24.72 27.03 80.9636 Zizyphus mauritiana 1.87 29.21 88.33 32.75 40.54 102.5037 Melia azedarach 0.26 4.06 16.66 6.17 5.40 15.63

Mean 1.60±0.46 24.99±7.24 67.91±18.42 25.18±6.83 25.0±7.26 75.17±20.46VIII 38 Acacia nilotica 3.36 45.90 100.0 39.22 43.48 128.60

39 Zizyphus mauritiana 2.74 37.43 83.33 34.64 32.61 104.840 Dalbergia sissoo 0.92 12.56 50.00 19.61 21.74 53.9141 Melia azedarach 0.30 4.09 16.66 6.53 2.17 12.79

Mean 1.83±0.72 24.99±9.93 62.49±18.47 25.0±7.44 25.0±8.80 75.02±25.94

Fig.3 A comparison of average values of IVI for tree species occurring in the eight selected habitats of the study area. Values expressed as mean ±SE.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

I II III IV V VI VII VIII

Study Sites

Mea

n IV

I

Table 4 Density and frequency of shrub species at different study sites in Chakwal district.

Site Shrub Species D/4m2 RD F RFI Zizyphus nummularia 0.66 23.53 50 23.07

Capparis decidua 0.33 11.76 33.33 15.38 Prosopis juliflora 0.83 29.41 66.66 30.79 Calotropis procera 0.66 23.53 33.33 15.38 Saccharum griffithii 0.33 11.76 33.33 15.38 Mean 0.56±0.09 19.99±3.53 43.33±6.66 20.00±3.08

II Calotropis procera 0.66 28.57 50 37.50 Prosopis juliflora 0.33 14.28 16.66 12.49 Saccharum griffithii 0.66 28.57 33.33 25.00 Zizyphus nummularia 0.66 28.57 33.33 25.00 Mean 0.57±0.08 24.99±3.57 33.33±6.80 24.99±5.10

III Capparis decidua 0.33 15.38 33.33 22.22 Prosopis juliflora 0.66 30.77 50 33.33 Zizyphus nummularia 0.83 29.41 33.33 22.22 Adhatoda vasica 0.33 15.38 33.33 22.22 Mean 0.53±0.12 22.73±4.25 37.49±4.16 24.99±2.77

IV Prosopis juliflora 1 31.58 50 25 Calotropis procera 0.33 10.53 33.33 16.66 Saccharum griffithii 0.5 15.78 33.33 16.66 Ricinus communis 1 31.58 33.33 16.66 Capparis decidua 0.5 15.78 50 25 Mean 0.66±0.13 21.05±4.40 39.99±4.08 19.99±2.04

V Justicia adhatoda 0.33 8.69 33.33 13.33 Dodonaea viscosa 1.5 39.13 83.33 33.33 Cannabis sativa 1.17 30.43 50 20.00 Adhatoda vasica 0.5 13.04 50 20.00 Ziziphus nummularia 0.33 8.69 33.33 13.33 Mean 0.76±0.24 19.99±6.24 49.99±9.12 19.99±3.65

VI Calotropis procera 0.66 23.53 50 27.27 Cannabis sativa 1 35.29 50 27.27 Adhatoda vasica 0.66 23.53 50 27.27 Zizyphus nummularia 0.5 17.65 33.33 18.18 Mean 0.70±0.10 25.00±3.69 45.83±4.16 24.99±2.27

VII Zizyphus nummularia 1 37.50 50 30 Justicia adhatoda 0.66 25.00 50 30 Calotropis procera 0.5 18.75 33.33 19.99 Prosopis juliflora 0.5 18.75 33.33 19.99 Mean 0.66±0.11 25.00±4.41 41.67±4.81 24.99±3.12VIII Zizyphus nummularia 0.33 18.18 33.33 24.99 Saccharum griffithii 0.66 36.36 50 37.5 Calotropis procera 0.83 45.45 50 37.5

Mean 0.60±0.14 33.33±8.01 44.44±5.55 33.33±4.17

SHRUBS SPECIES

Fig.4 A comparison of average density of shrub species in eight selected study sites of district Chakwal from May 2009 to June 2010. Values expressed as mean ±SE.

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

I II III IV V VI VII VIII

Study Sites

Ave

rage

den

sity

per 4

met

er S

q

Fig.5 A comparison of average frequency of shrub species in eight selected study sites of district Chakwal from May 2009 to June 2010. Values expressed as mean ±SE

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

I II III IV V VI VII VIII

Study Sites

mea

n fr

eque

ncy

HERBS SPECIES

Fig.6 Density (per sq. m) of herb species in eight different study sites. Values expressed as mean ±SE.

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

I II III IV V VI VII VIII

Study Sites

Dens

ity p

er S

q. m

eter)

Fig.7 Average frequency of herb species in the study areas from May 2009 to June2010. Values expressed as mean ±SE.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

I II III IV V VI VII VIII

Study Sites

Freq

uenc

y

POPULATION ESTIMATION

Month

Site I

Site III

Site V Site VI Site VII

Mean density in five study sites ± SE

No.Obs

Density

/km2

No.

Obs

Density

/km2

No.

Obs

Density

/km2

No.

Obs

Density

/km2

No.

Obs

Density

/km2

May-09 04 1.25 - - - - - - - -

Jun 03 0.94 01 0.31 - - 01 0.31 - - Jul - - - - - - - - 02 0.63

Aug 01 0.31 01 0.31 01 0.31 01 0.31 01 0.31 Sep 01 0.31 - - 01 0.31 01 0.31 01 0.31 Oct 01 0.31 - - - - - - - - Nov 01 0.31 - - - - 02 0.63 01 0.31

Dec-09 02 0.63 - - - - - - 03 0.94

Jan-10 01 0.31 - - 01 0.31 - - 01 0.31 Feb - - - - 02 0.63 01 0.31 - - Mar 01 0.31 - - - - - - 01 0.31 Apr 02 0.63 - - 01 0.31 02 0.63 - - May 02 0.63 - - 01 0.31 02 0.63 02 0.63

Jun-10 01 0.31 - - - - 01 0.31 01 0.31

Total 20 6.25 02 0.62 07 2.18 11 3.44 13 4.05

Mean±SE 0.45± 0.09 0.04±0.03 0.16±0.05 0.25±0.06 0.29±0.070.238±0.06

Red-headed Merlin (Falco chicquera)Average density (per sq. km) in different selected sites of district Chakwal from May 2009 to June 2010. Values expressed as mean ±SE.

p <0.05

POPULATION ESTIMATION

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)Population Density of Common Kestrel in selected study sites from May 2009 to June 2010. p > 0.05

Month

Site II

Site III

Site IV

Site V Site VIII

Mean

population density in five study sites±SE

No.

Obs

Density

/km2

No.

Obs

Density

/km2

No.

Obs

Density

/km2

No.

Obs

Density

/km2

No.

Obs

Density

/km2

May-09 - - - - - - - - - -

Jun - - - - - - - - - -

Jul - - - - - - - - 01 0.31

Aug - - - - - - - - - -

Sep 01 0.31 - - - - - - - -

Oct 01 0.31 - - 01 0.31 - - 02 0.63

Nov 01 0.31 01 0.31 01 0.31 01 0.31 02 0.63

Dec-09 02 0.63 01 0.31 02 0.63 01 0.31 01 0.31

Jan-10 01 0.31 - - - - 01 0.31 01 0.31

Feb 01 0.31 02 0.63 01 0.31 - - 01 0.31

Mar 02 0.63 01 0.31 01 0.31 01 0.31 01 0.31

Apr 01 0.31 01 0.31 - - 04 1.30 02 0.63

May 01 0.31 01 0.31 02 0.63 02 0.63 01 0.31

Jun-10 - - - - 02 0.63 01 0.31 01 0.31

Total 10 3.43 07 3.13 10 3.13 12 3.48 12 4.06

Mean±SE 0.25±0.05 0.22±0.05 0.22±0.06 0.29±0.05 0.25±0.10 0.246±0.05

Density of Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) in the selected study sites of district Chakwal from May 2009 to June 2010. p < 0.05

Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug)

MonthSite V Site VI

Mean population density in two study sites±SE

No.

Obs

Density

/km2

No.

Obs

Density

/km2

May-09 - - - - Jun - - - - Jul - - - -

Aug 01 0.31 - - Sep 02 0.63 01 0.31 Oct 02 0.63 - - Nov - - - -

Dec-09 01 0.31 - - Jan-10 02 0.63 - -

Feb 01 0.31 01 0.31 Mar 03 0.94 - - Apr 02 0.63 01 0.31 May 02 0.63 - -

Jun-10 03 0.94 - - Total 19 5.96 03 0.93

Mean±SE 0.42±0.09 0.07±0.03 0.245±0.06

POPULATION ESTIMATION

Some details about the numbers of nests probable to be occupied by three falcon species during the study period in selected study sites.

Common kestrel nest in cavity on a cliff

Red -headed merlin’s nest

Red-headed merlin juvenile

Saker falcon’s nest on a cliff

Study Site No.

Falcon species in the study site

Numbers of nests of Crows/ Kites can be occupied by the falcon species

Number of active nests

I Red-headed Merlin 28 1

II Common Kestrel 24 -

III Common Kestrel 19 -

IV Common Kestrel 22 1

V Saker Falcon & Common Kestrel

07 2

VI Red-headed Merlin 17 -

VII Red Headed Falcon 26 1

VIII Common Kestrel 15 -

Conservation Status

Red-headed Merlin• “Least Concern” (IUCN, 2010) • Appendix-II (CITES, 2010)

• Global population estimated in 2009 • 10,000 to 100,000 mature pairs

(Bird Life Int., 2010)

Common Kestrel• “Least Concern” (IUCN 2010)

• Appendix- II (CITES, 2010)

• Global population estimated is 5,000,000 (Bird Life Int., 2010)

Saker Falcon• “Endangered” (IUCN, 2010)

• Appendix-II (CITES, 2010)

• Global population is between 9,400-17,700 breeding pairs

(Dixon, 2009)

Threats

• Loss of habitat• Commercial Exploitation - Trapping and Shooting

(Ahmed, 2003) Recommendations• Tree cutting should be strictly stopped• Illegal Trapping should be checked