Article

Article name FACTORS INFLUENCING DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT UTILISATION OF LEPTOPTILOS JAVANICUS IN AND AROUND BARANDABHAR CORRIDOR FOREST, CHITWAN, NEPAL
Authors

Yureshiya Wagle, MSc Student, Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University (TU Road, Kirtipur 44618, Bagmati, Nepal); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4389-2451; e-mail: yureshiya1@gmail.com
Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai, Assistant Professor, Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University (TU Road, Kirtipur 44618, Bagmati, Nepal); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6881-6618; e-mail: bishnu.bhattarai@cdz.tu.edu.np
Jagan Nath Adhikari, Assistant Professor, Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University (TU Road, Kirtipur 44618, Bagmati, Nepal); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4389-2451; e-mail: jagan.adhikari@bimc.tu.edu.np

Reference to article

Wagle Y., Bhattarai B.P., Adhikari J.N. 2022. Factors influencing distribution and habitat utilisation of Leptoptilos javanicus in and around Barandabhar Corridor Forest, Chitwan, Nepal. Nature Conservation Research 7(1): 19–26. https://dx.doi.org/10.24189/ncr.2022.005

Section Research articles
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.24189/ncr.2022.005
Abstract

The globally Vulnerable wetland-dependent bird species Leptoptilos javanicus was once thought to avoid farmlands, but recent studies in lowland Nepal showed that the species uses farmlands extensively for foraging and breeding. Identifying whether this preference of L. javanicus to these habitats is common throughout Nepal is essential to understanding the conservation needs of the species. This study aimed to explore the seasonal distribution and habitat utilisation by L. javanicus in and around the Barandabhar Corridor Forest by using 220 randomly selected squares within a 500 × 500 m2 grid. We visited centroids of each selected square to collect data on L. javanicus distribution, habitat types, and probable causes of disturbance in two seasons (rainy: August – September 2019 and winter: December – January 2019–2020). A total of 64 observations of L. javanicus (n = 29 in winter, n = 35 in rainy) were made. Leptoptilos javanicus were seen in more squares outside the Protected Area (65.2%) during the rainy season. Variables that negatively influenced L. javanicus sightings were distance to the road (few individuals seen close to the road), distance to the village (few individuals seen close to settlement), and areas under human disturbance (only few individuals seen in areas with more livestock and people) during both seasons. The farmlands around the Barandabhar Corridor Forest hosted many individuals of L. javanicus and are a new location in lowland Nepal with a resident population of this species. Past assumptions regarding L. javanicus conservation require revision, and including a focus on farmlands is an important requirement in Nepal's conservation planning.

Keywords

bird conservation, Chitwan National Park, Lesser adjutant, paddy fields, point count, wetland birds

Artice information

Received: 16.05.2021. Revised: 15.12.2021. Accepted: 16.12.2021.

The full text of the article
References

Adhikari J.N., Bhattarai B.P., Thapa T.B. 2018. Diversity and conservation threats of water birds in and around Barandabhar Corridor Forest, Chitwan, Nepal. Journal of Natural History Museum 30: 164–179. DOI: 10.3126/jnhm.v30i0.27553
Adhikari J.N., Bhattarai B.P., Thapa T.B. 2019. Factors affecting diversity and distribution of threatened birds in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Journal of Threatened Taxa 11(5): 13511–13522. DOI: 10.11609/jot.4137.11.5.13511-13522
Adhikari J.N., Bhattarai B.P., Rokaya M.B., Thapa T.B. 2020. Ethno-medicinal uses of vertebrates in the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape, central Nepal. PLoS ONE 15(10): e0240555. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240555
Baral H.S., Inskipp C. 2005. Important Bird Areas in Nepal: key sites for conservation. Kathmandu, Nepal; Cambridge, UK: Bird Conservation Nepal and BirdLife International. 242 p.
Bhattarai B.P. 2012. Distribution and diversity of storks in the adjoining areas of Chitwan National Park, Nepal. In: P. Kindlmann (Ed.): Himalayan Biodiversity in the Changing World. Dordrecht: Springer. P. 97–114. DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-1802-9_4
Bhattarai B.P., Adhikari J.N., Rijal M. 2021. Nesting habitat selection and challenges of conservation of the vulnerable Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus (Horsfield, 1821) in the Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Ornis Hungarica 29(1): 33–46. DOI: 10.2478/orhu-2021-0003
BirdLife International. 2017. Leptoptilos javanicus (amended version of 2016 assessment). In: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T22697713A110481858. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22697713A110481858.en
del Hoyo J., Elliott A., Collar N., Garcia E.F.J., Boesman P.F.D., Kirwan G.M. 2020. Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus), version 1.0. In: S.M. Billerman, B.K. Keeney, P.G. Rodewald, T.S. Schulenberg (Eds.): Birds of the World. Ithaca, NY: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. DOI: 10.2173/bow.wonsto1.01
DHM. 2019. Data of Temperature, rainfall and relative humidity from 1989 to 2018. Kathmandu: Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. Available from: https://www.dhm.gov.np/
DNPWC. 2020. Protected species of Nepal. Kathmandu, Nepal: Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. Available from: http://dnpwc.gov.np/en/aves/
Gunarathne A., Jayakody S., Amerasinghe U. 2014. Fluctuations in avian distribution and diversity in Anavilundawa Ramsar Sanctuary. Wildlanka 2: 41–57.
Hancock J., Kushlan J.A., Kahl M.P. 2010. Storks, ibises and spoonbills of the world. London, UK: Academic Press. 385 p.
Inskipp C., Baral H.S., Phuyal S., Bhatt T.R., Khatiwada M., Inskipp T., Khatiwada A., Gurung S., Singh P.B., Murray L., Poudyal L., Amin R. 2016. The status of Nepal's Birds: The national Red List series. Vol. 1–5. London, UK: Zoological Society of London. 686 p.
Jackman S. 2020. pscl: Classes and Methods for R Developed in the Political Science Computational Laboratory. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia: United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney. R package version 1.5.5. Available from: https://github.com/atahk/pscl/
Karki S., Thapa T.B. 2013. Population status, nesting habitat selection and conservation threats of lesser adjutant stork (Leptoptilos javanicus) in the eastern lowlands of Nepal. Conservation Science 1(1): 27–35. DOI: 10.3126/cs.v1i1.8581
Khatiwada J.R., Adhikari J.N., Rijal D., Sharma L.N. 2021. Freshwater biodiversity in western Nepal: A review. Nepalese Journal of Zoology 5(1): 34–46. DOI: 10.3126/njz.v5i1.38290
Kittur S., Sundar K.S.G. 2020. Density, flock size and habitat preference of Woolly-necked Storks Ciconia episcopus in agricultural landscapes of south Asia. SIS Conservation 2: 71–79.
Koju R., Maharjan B., Gosai K.R., Kittur S., Sundar K.S.G. 2019. Ciconiiformes nesting on trees in cereal-dominated farmlands: importance of scattered trees for heronries in lowland Nepal. Waterbirds 42(4): 355–365. DOI: 10.1675/063.042.0401
Lisle R.J. 2006. Google Earth: a new geological resource. Geology Today 22(1): 29–32. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2451.2006.00546.x
Poudyal L.P. 2010. Population status of Lesser Adjutant in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Danphe 19(1): 1–4.
R Core Team. 2020. R: A language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna, Austria: R Foundation for Statistical Computing. Available from: https://www.R-project.org/.
Sundar K.S.G., Koju R., Maharjan B., Marcot B.G., Kittur S., Gosai K.R. 2019. First assessment of factors affecting the breeding success of two stork species in lowland Nepalusing Bayesian Network models. Wildfowl 69: 45–69.
Thapa T.B. 2011. Habitat Suitability Evaluation for Leopard (Panthera Pardus) Using Remote Sensing and GIS in and Around Chitwan National Park, Nepal. PhD Thesis. Rajkot: Saurashtra University. 228 p.
Thompson F.R., Schwalbach M.J. 1995. Analysis of sample size, counting time, and plot size from an avian point count survey on Hoosier National Forest, Indiana. In: C.J. Ralph, J.R. Sauer, S. Droege (Eds.): Monitoring bird populations by point counts. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-149. Albany, CA: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. P. 45–48.
Win M.S., Yi A.M., Myint T.S., Khine K., Po H.S., Non K.S., Sundar K.S.G. 2020. Comparing abundance and habitat use of Woolly-necked Storks Ciconia episcopus inside and outside protected areas in Myanmar. SIS Conservation 2: 96–103.