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Breeding Biology of Common Kingfisher (alcedo Atthis, Linnaeus 1758)

HABIBON NAHER
Corresponding author:
Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

NOOR JAHAN SARKER
Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

SHAWKAT IMAM KHAN
Department of Natural History, Bangladesh National Museum, Shahbag, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The breeding biology of the common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) was studied from 2008 to 2011 in Dhaka North City Corporation and Savar Upazilla. The breeding season was April to September. It laid 3 to 7 glossy white, almost round eggs with a size of 2.5±0.3 cm length, 2.2±0.3 cm breadth, and 5.3±0.7g weight. It incubated for 16 to 21 days. During hatching, the hatchlings’ weight ranged from 8.5 to 10.5 g and total body length from 43.2 to 58.6 mm whereas, it was 30.1 to 32.7 g and 151 to 155.5 mm, respectively, during fledging. Hatching success was 83.3%. Stolen by people (13.9%) and infertility (2.8%) were the causes of egg loss. The young birds fledged out after 21 to 27 days of hatching. A total of 56.7% of nestlings were unable to fly due to stolen (43.3%), deaths due to unknown reasons (6.7%) and deaths due to natural disaster (6.7%). The breeding success was 36.1% in relation to eggs laid and 43.3% in relation to eggs hatched.

Keywords: Egg, Hatchling, Fledgling, Breeding success, Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis

Location: Dhaka North City Corporation and Savar Upazilla, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-00-2008

End Date: 00-00-2011

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Bird

Objectives:

The objectives of this study were to determine reproductive success, mortality rates and the causes of eggs and fledgling loss.

Methodology:

The fieldwork was performed twice a week during the breeding season, from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, following focal animal sampling at 5 minutes intervals (Altmann 1974). Pair formation and courtship behavior were noted under several headings: (i) Advertising display: One bird squatting on a tree branch, calling and jerking its head right and left and flying from one branch to another around the other bird, (ii) Head bobbing: Squatting on a tree branch, head jerking up and down while neck and nape drew back and almost or actually touched the back, (iii) Mutual display: While one bird displayed, the other bird joined with and did the same. During this time, both birds sat side by side on the same or different branches (0.05 to 2 m, median=1.5 m, n = 42), (iv) Courtship flight: While the pair chased each other by flying up and down in a zig-zag fashion and calling, (v) Mounting: While one bird mount over another with or without cloaca contact. The eggs were marked as I, II, III and so on with permanent ink and measured with slide calipers and weighed with a spring balance and care was taken to avoid excessive disturbance when first seen. The breeding success was calculated by using the following formulae: Hatching success (%) = (No. of eggs hatched / total no. of eggs laid) × 100 Fledging success (%) = (No. of nestlings fledged / total no. of nestlings hatched) × 100 Breeding success (%) = (No. of eggs laid / No. of nestlings fledged) × 100. Study area: The study was done at Nikunja 1 in Dhaka North City Corporation Area and three villages (Sinduria, Boro-Walia, and Kashipur) under Savar Upazilla. Nikunja-1 (23.82500⁰ N and 90.42002⁰E) is located on the west side of the Dhaka Airport highway. There are two Lakes, one at the east (668.5 X 17.07 m) and another one at the west side (218.13 X 75.05 m) of the Nikunja 1 residential area. The northern and southern side of Nikunja 1 is bounded by Nikunja 2 residential area and Dhaka Cantonment Gulf field, respectively. One nest was built at the bank of the eastern lake of Nikunja-1 in 2009, which was reused in 2010. On the other hand, Savar Upazila is located in the Dhaka district and covers 280.13 sq. km. Sinduria (23.88137⁰ N and 90.23320⁰E), Boro-Walia (23.88627⁰ N and 90.25197⁰E) and Kashipur (23.88483⁰N and 90.24294⁰E) villages were located under Boro-walia Union in Savar Upazila of Dhaka district. One nest was found at Bara Walia, which was reused in 2010 and 2011. One nest was built at Sinduria in 2010 which was reused in 2011. One nest was found at Kashipur in 2011. These villages are located at the Jahangirnagar University Campus.

Source of Information: J. Asiat. Soc. Bangladesh, Sci. 47(1): 23-34, June 2021

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/jasbs.v47i1.54184

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The common kingfishers build their nests near wetlands. As our country's wetlands are declining at an alarming rate, their nesting sites are under threat. Moreover, sudden fill-up of wetlands by the owners without concerning their nests decreases reproductive success. Regular cleaning activities of the owners at the bank of water bodies also destroy their nests. Besides, nests are also flooded by rising water levels caused by sudden heavy rainfall. In accordance with this, local boys steal the eggs and nestlings, and enhance the mortality rates. Additionally, cutting trees like, Sisoo (Dalbergia sissoo), Koroi (Albizia procera), Gagan siris (Albizia richardiana), Tunt (Morus indica), Shimul (Bombax ceiba), Jhau (Casuarina littorea), Jiga (Lannea coromandalica) around the water bodies is another cause which was used for preying, resting, bathing and diving. They preferred to use 3 to 10.2 m (7.4 ± 2.3, n=14) height trees or brunches. As they live on fishes and insects, fish farmers trap them and kill them in Nikunjo 1. More than sixty percent of nests were destroyed due to anthropogenic reasons. If it were possible to check, the breeding success would increase. However, people should be aware to conserving the nest sites and habitat around the wetlands to conserve this species in nature. The young birds fledged out after 21 to 27 days of hatching. A total of 56.7% of nestlings were unable to fly due to stolen (43.3%), deaths due to unknown reasons (6.7%) and deaths due to natural disaster (6.7%). The breeding success was 36.1% in relation to eggs laid and 43.3% in relation to eggs hatched.

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