SOME STUDIES ON BIO-ECOLOGY OF PHEASANT TAILED JACANA, HYDROPHASIANUS CHIRURGUS IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Pheasant Tailed Jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus is only beautiful bird maintain its presence in abandoned wetlands of Punjab during summer season. This study was designed to study the population status and its future potentials to estimate the threats and to propose the measures for its conservation if required. Literature suggested sites were selected and schedule of visits month and year wise was developed and sites were visited accordingly, data gathered was analyzed statistically. The population distribution appears, between 298 and 347 highest (83-96) at Marala and lowest (21-57) at Balloki, while density found highest (3/km2) and lowest (0.3/ km2), being the migratory bird March was observed as start of arrival and October was observed as completion of departure from the study areas. Female to male ratio appears 1:0.75 while juvenile to adult ratio observed 1:0.35 are sign of population stability. Physical factors of the habitat such as temperature, pH and phytosociological studies of the habitat distribution and frequency of rooted vegetation species were recorded to understand their association with the species. This shows 32 species distributed in 4 vegetation types within the habitats lies in study areas. The studies on biology of this bird were focused on food and feeding, food consumption which revealed that 56.3% of its food is consists of plant matter and 27.3% on animal matter. Breeding biology studies suggests the clutch size remains between 1-4 eggs, and most of the fertile females laid 2 consecutive clutches to hand over two different males for hatching and chick rearing, incubation calculated of 25-29 days hatchability found around 80%. Defensive responses, egg laying and chick care were observed to understand general behavior of the species. The results of this study suggested that major threats to Pheasant Tailed Jacana are the commercial activities within its habitat and immediate adjacent to them, which could be regulated for its sustainability.