Behavioural observations on the critically endangered Long-billed vultures (Gyps indicus) at Adarwadi nesting cliff in Tamhini Ghat, Maharashtra, India. Nests and perches identified and statistical data collected for the same.
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\title{\textbf{Behavioural observations on Long-billed vultures (\textit{Gyps indicus})
at Adarwadi nesting cliff in TamhiniGhat, Maharashtra}}
\author{ \\ Dr Anand Padhye\hspace{2em}Kshitija Kulkarni \\ Devna Arora\hspace{2.8em}Soham Dixit \\ Neelesh Dahanukar \\ \\ }
\date{Data Collection Period: 2009 - 2013 \\ \textbf{2014} }
\usepackage{graphicx}
\begin{document}
\maketitle
\section{Introduction}
• The Long Billed Vulture (\textit{Gyps indicus}) is one of the smaller Old World vultures that breeds in peninsular India and South-east Pakistan.
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• The species has declined by over 97\% throughout its range since the 1990’s and has been listed as Critically Endangered [A2bce+4bce] on the IUCN Red List since the year 2002.
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• The species has been poorly studied in its natural habitat and behavioral data is primarily only available from recent studies on captive populations.
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• The formulation of effective conservation plans necessitates the identification and in-situ monitoring of current vulture populations.
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• This is also a prerequisite in identifying conservation action required and preventing the complete extinction of the species.
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• This project has been undertaken with the aim to enhance our understanding of the behavior of free-ranging vulture populations.
\section{Study Site}
• The study site is a westward-facing cliff at Adarwadi, Tamhini (Western Ghats), Maharashtra.
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• Climate is primarily tropical with heavy monsoons averaging 5500-6500 mm of rainfall per year (Padhyeet al. 2007).
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• Coordinates of the nesting cliff are 18$^{\circ}$27'6.20"N and 73$^{\circ}$24'31.13"E to 18$^{\circ}$26'46.94"N and 73$^{\circ}$24'22.51"E
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• Highway SH 60 passes 250-300 meters from the base of the cliffs.
\section{Materials And Methods}
• Non-invasive data collection.
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• Data was collected from a distance of 300 meters from the base of the cliffs.
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• Bi-monthly surveys over 3 $\frac{1}{2}$ years.
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• Data collected using Nikon/Olympus 10x50 Binoculars.
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• Continuous behavioral observations over 3 hours.
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• Bones were collected from the base of the cliffs, when possible.
\section{Abbreviations used}
Alphabets used for Activities observed\\ \\
A\hspace{1em} Sitting \\
B\hspace{1em} Comes out from inside and sits outside \\
C\hspace{1em} Was sitting but went inside and/or inside and not visible anymore \\
D\hspace{1em} Basking/Preening\\
E\hspace{1em} Hop nests\\
F\hspace{1em} Hop between nest and perch, and vice-versa\\
G\hspace{1em} Take off, soar, and come back to the nest\\
H\hspace{1em} Take off, soar, and go beyond visibility\\
I\hspace{1em} Come, soar above nest, and then disappear\\
J\hspace{1em} Soaring\\
K\hspace{1em} Landing on ridge/nest/perch\\
L\hspace{1em} Lands and then takes off (within 2-3 mins) again\\
M\hspace{1em} Land and go inside the nest\\
N\hspace{1em} Feeding chicks (parents have brought food)\\
O\hspace{1em} Mating\\
P\hspace{1em} Takes off and soars\\
Q\hspace{1em} Was soaring, then disappeared\\
\section{Observations and results}
1. Activity at the nest site gradually increases towards noon, with peak activity and movement seen between 1430h – 1500h and then a steady decline after 1630h.
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2. The vultures were most commonly seen sitting at the nests or soaring between 1430h-1500h. Preening, in most instances, was also observed at the same time.
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3. The increase in afternoon activity is likely due to the availability of thermals and a more favorable temperature outside the nests during peak afternoons. The vultures use the thermal winds to soar.
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4. A maximum number of 19 vultures seen at the nest site at any given time.
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5. On average 2 fledgling chicks were observed each year.
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6. A pair of vultures was observed mating twice in March 2013.
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7. The most common activities seen in all the observations is Soaring and Sitting.
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8. Nest 1 was used for the maximum instances followed by Nest 2 and Nest 3. Nest 10 was used the least amount of times.
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9. Activities steadily pick up after the monsoons and remain intense until summer and again steadily decline towards the onset of the monsoons
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10. Chicks were observed in Nest 1, Nest 3 and Nest 9.
\begin{figure}[b]
\centering
\includegraphics[width=1\textwidth]{Graph_Activity.png}
\caption{\label{fig:Activity}Activity observed vs time of the day}
\end{figure}
\begin{figure}[htb]
\includegraphics[width=1\textwidth]{No_of_Vultures_vs_month.png}
\caption{\label{fig:No of Vultures per month }Number of Vultures observed for each month for the 4 year period}
\end{figure}
\begin{figure}[ht]
\includegraphics[width=1\textwidth]{Behavior_changes_and_frequecy_over_the_months.png}
\caption{\label{fig:Behaviour Frequency} Frequency of certain Behavior against the months in which it was observed}
\end{figure}
\begin{figure}[htb]
\includegraphics[width=1\textwidth]{Nest_use.png}
\caption{\label{fig:Nest Use} Nest used vs total number of times used}
\end{figure}
\begin{figure}[ht]
\includegraphics[width=1\textwidth]{Vulture_Nest.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:Vulture nest} Vulture Nest N4}
\end{figure}
\begin{figure}[htb]
\includegraphics[width=1\textwidth]{Vulture_Soaring.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:Vulture Soaring} Long Billed Vulture (\textit{Gyps indicus}) soaring}
\end{figure}
\begin{figure}[ht]
\includegraphics[width=1\textwidth]{Nest_Area_used_for_perching.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:Nest Area} Vulture perching at P15 }
\end{figure}
\begin{figure}[htb]
\includegraphics[width=1\textwidth]{Adarwadi_Nesting_Cliff.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:Adarwadi Nest Site} Adarwadi Nesting Cliffs and approach route}
\end{figure}
\begin{figure}[htb]
\includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{Nest_Site_marking.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:Nest Marking} Nesting Site marked with P for perches and N for Nests}
\end{figure}
\section{References}
Padhye, A. D., Paingankar, M., Dahanukar, N. and Pande, S. 2007. Season and landscape element wise changes in the community structure of avifauna of Tamhini, Northern Western Ghats, India. Zoo’s Print Journal 22(9):2807-15.
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Pandeet al. (2013) Promising trend of in situ breeding of Oriental white-rumped vulture \textit{Gyps bengalensis}, in Raigad District, Maharashtra India: Conservation implications for reintroduction of ex situ population.
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BirdLife International.2012.\textit{Gyps indicus} In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Version 2013.1.
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BirdLife International.2001.Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International. pp. 614-620.
\end{document}