Narayan Lal Choudhary & Nadim Chishty*
Wildlife, Limnology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Government Meera Girl’s College
Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
Received : 10th July, 2022 ; Revised : 10th August, 2022
Abstract– The nesting ecology of the spotted owlet was studied from January, 2022 to May, 2022 in various microhabitats of Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding areas. During study, a total of 29 nests and 71 fledglings were observed in different habitats; forest, agricultural lands and human habitation areas. Spotted owlet nests were observed on Mangifera indica, Ficus religiosa, Phoenix sylvestris and Azadirachta indica trees. Forest habitats had the most nests and fledglings, followed by agricultural land and human habitation areas respectively. In forest habitats, an average tree height of 10.52 metres and an average nest height of 6.36 metres were observed. In agricultural habitats, an average tree height of 11.02 metres and an average nest height of 5.95 metres were observed. While minimum average tree height (8.98 metres) and nest height (4.98 meters) were observed in human habitation areas. The nesting and breeding biology of spotted owlets has been significantly influenced by dramatic declination in holes and cavities, as well as the cutting of old and large trees.
Key words: Spotted owlet, nesting, habitat, cavity, trees
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