Biodiversity

Biography

Biography: Sakhawat Ali

Abstract

Asian Pied Myna (Sturnus contra) was first reported in Pakistan at Changa Managa forest plantation in Kasur District in April 1982. Recently, a shift in the populations of pied myna (S. Contra) from rural to sub-urban and urban habitat has been noticed. Present study was designed to investigate the extent of expansion of population of pied myna in urban areas of Rawalpindi. For this purpose we conducted rekey surveys to find the potential habitat of pied myna (S. contra) and identify its seasonal population trends in the city. A total of five different sampling sites were identified for survey and periodic monitoring. Total these sites mainly consists of human settlement areas where marshes formed by the sanitation water. Point count method was used to estimate the population at selected site and observation was made through binocular (250x) for a period of a whole year. A high concentration of S. Contra was observed during the month of November (12.08±1.01), December (12.08±1.01), January (12.08±1.01) and February (12.4±1.16) suggesting some migratory influx during winter months. The average observed population of pied myna was (9.46±0.86) throughout the city. During the whole study period, a stable population of 3-4 pairs at each study site was observed at sites which prefer to developed nest on electric and telephonic poles, feed upon dumped house garbage and animal dungs. Average morphomertics of ten captured individual was as: Total length (23.83±0.23 cm), tail length (7.13±0.13 cm), beak length (2.63±0.04 cm) and average weight (82±1.73 g). It is predicted that along with feeding and nesting opportunities, marshy vegetation in urban open spaces and hiding places developed in urban construction which provide cover attracts S. Contra to adopt in urban environment and it may extends with urban expansion in the coming years.