STUDY OF NESTING BEHAVIOUR OF PAINTED STORK (Mycteria  leucocephala) IN TAKALI (PADMAWATI)LAKE IN PANDHARPUR CITY (M.S.) INDIA

Shilpa Kumar Pawar; Dr. P.S. Salunkhe

Volume : V, Issue : VI, June - 2016

STUDY OF NESTING BEHAVIOUR OF PAINTED STORK (Mycteria leucocephala) IN TAKALI (PADMAWATI)LAKE IN PANDHARPUR CITY (M.S.) INDIA

Shilpa Kumar Pawar, Dr. P. S. Salunkhe

Abstract :

 Presnt paper deals with the study of nesting behaviuor of painted stork,Mycteria leucocephala in Takali (Padmawati) lake in Pandharpur city.The study was carried out during November 2013 to July 2014 according to Ali and Ripley (1983). Takali lake provides a good eeding and feeding ground to a variety of aquatic avifauna and it is one of the best site to carry out studies on various aspects of aquatic avifauna.Painted storks visit this lake every year for their nesting.This bird is included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. During the study period total 90 nests were observed in the lake. Allthe All the nests were built on the low level Acacia trees within the lake water.The nest construction,mating and egg laying is observed in the month of November and December.The nestlings were observed in almost all the nests in the month of Feuary to April.Both male and female carried out the duties of incubation,feeding to nestlings and other parental cares.The incubation period recorded is about 32 to 35 days.Generally in the month of May and June all the juveniles leave the nests along with their parents.Takali lake is one of the best nesting, feeding and eeding site for the painted storks.So it is neccessary to take steps towards the conservation of such diversified wetland.