Ecology of Eagles in Bundelkhand Region, India

A preliminary study on eagles in districts of Bundelkhand region (stretched between 23° 35'-26'N and 78- 82' E) has been carried out. An extensive survey was carried out (2006-2010) to know their population status and fluctuation in population, including breeding colonies in Bundelkhand region. The numbers of birds were recorded per year in different seasons, with the help of binoculars. Method was supported by photography. The most common species recorded during the study period was Milvus migrans govinda (resident species) while the rarer species were Haliaeetus leucoryphus, Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus. Aquila helica, Ictinaetus malayensis, Aquila chrysaetos as migratory species in Panna National Park. It was found that number of eagles also variable. It has been recorded that maximum number 1070 in 2010. Highest numbers of chicks were reported in 2009. Juveniles have more tendency of migration.


Introduction
found in India.
Ictinaetus malayensis, Haliaeetus leucogaster, Eagles have an excellent binocular vision (R. Haliaeetus leucoryphus, Ichthyophaga Shlaer 1972).Eagles help to control and stabilize ichthyaetus.(S.Ali 1996).the numbers of preys because they kill farm pests, No systematic study on the population such as rabbits, rats and grasshoppers.They help ecology and nesting habits has been carried out to maintain farm hygiene by catching sick animals and feeding on carrion (A.Bowland et on eagles in India.This is perhaps the most al., 1993).In this way, they are important predators systematic eagle population survey carried out in the last 5 years from 2006-2010 covering wide which help in maintaining an ecological balance and different geographical areas of Bundelkhand within their habitat.A robust population of eagle indicates a healthy farm environment.Eagles region of India.Many serious threats were help to control the exotic disease toxoplasmosis recorded during the study like habitat loss, by killing feral cats.
reduced food availability, climatic conditions, There are 236 species of eagles found in the and anthropogenic disturbances.This study has world.There are following species of eagles helped to highlight the population ecology of eagles and gather attention from concerned population estimates.The nesting and roosting authorities and local people to take conservation colonies were surveyed from early morning 8:00 measures.
a.m.well before the eagles leave these sites and in the evening from 5:00 p.m. to dusk well after they

Materials and Methods
had settled at nesting and roosting sites.Method Study Area: The study region is stretched was supported by photography.A personal survey between 23° 35'-26'N and 78-82' E bounded by was done in above region.Primary and secondary the Yamuna in the North, the Chambal in the data were collected by personal interviews of North west, erupted ranges of the Vindhya local people living in the above areas.Villagers of plateau in the South East.The river network of the different age groups especially who visited the region comprises of various big and small rivers forest regularly were interviewed.The nesting like, Yamuna, Chambal, Betwa, Dhasan, Son, and roosting sites were thoroughly searched for Sindh and Kane.Bundelkhand region includes dead eagles.The observations were made from Jhansi, Lalitpur, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Banda and the ground with the help of binocular to prevent Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh and Sagar, Chattarpur, disturbance.Information was also derived from Tikamgarh, Panna and Damoh in Madhya Pradesh local forest areas of the above region.including parts of Gwalior, Datia, Shivpuri and

Chanderi.
Milvus migrans govinda only species of Generally, most of the populations of Milvus migrans govinda were observed in the areas with permanent water bodies or nallas, agricultural fields, slaughter houses, meat shopes and municipal rubbish dumping grounds of villages, towns and cities.Their populations were also observed near safe nesting and roosting trees.
It is 55-65 cm in size.Milvus migrans govinda has forked tail which differenciated it from other eagles.It prefers to live near human habitation can be seen in the air gliding gracefully for long Estimation of eagle population was done periods of time searching for food.It has dark through survey and direct count method (Gaston brown colour and the plumage is actually dark 1975 and Erwin 1980).The method of study brown with scattered light brown and rufous consisted of extended field visits from 2006markings particularly on the head, neck and 2010.Extensive random surveys of eagles were underparts.The bill is black with a yellow cere.carried out in some districts of Bundelkhand Young birds is generally lighter than the adults.region for eagle population, active nests and their The Milvus migrans govinda preys on lizards, monitoring was undertaken in the study area small mammals(bats, squirrel, rats etc.), small using a four wheeler for long-distances and a two birds especially pigeon, fishes, insects especially wheeler for short-distances.Extensive surveys of grasshoppers and anything else which available the nesting, roosting and feeding sites of eagles easily.It is also a good scavengers.were conducted.Spot surveys were conducted at It was found that number of eagles also feeding sites, mainly farm lands and around meat shopes and slaughter houses to determine the variable.The estimated population sizes were  Thus deforestation and other habitat destruction Juveniles are light in colour and small in size.The is one of the serious threats to eagles.estimated population sizes of juveniles were 188, 160, 200, 212 and 217 in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Climatic conditions has also played important and 2010 respectively.Juveniles have more role in the conservation of eagle in above region.tendency of migration.
The Bundelkhand region is marked by extremes of temperature, reaching the mid to upper 40º as low as 1º centigrade in winter.Deaths were reported during summer.We found a strong positive correlation between deaths of eagles and increasing ambient temperatures.
Eagles are vulnerable to electrocution when landing on powerpoles and kite flying by children.Eagles are killed for eyes too.It is believed that one can locate hidden treasure with the help of "Surma" prepared using the (sharp) eyes of eagles.Eagles are also killed for their legs and toe because of belief in superstitions.

Conclusion Table-5. Numbers of Juveniles of Milvus migrans govinda in study area
Last previous decades, eagle population appeared to be thousands in number, the reasons for that were abundance of high trees for nesting and roosting and absence of electric power lines.This species is listed as near threatened because it is experiencing a moderately rapid population decline, owing mostly to changes in land-use and persecution amongst other threats.Evidence that the population is undergoing a rapid decline would probably qualify it for a higher threat category.Keeping in mind, the above problems of the population decline of eagles there is an urgent need to study in depth all the factors responsible for their population decline in region.Thus a study has been designed to study population ecology.Milvus migrans govinda To protect eagles in region, it is imperative that The disappearance of local farmers be made aware about their status.has been widely reported in region.Habitat loss The detail study of its population dynamics, and anthropogenic disturbance are the largest roosting and breeding in the region will facilitates threats facing eagle population today.However, us in formulating a programme for its conservation nest disturbance may also be a significant source of local reproductive failure and population which is of serious concern now a days.All living decline in eagle species.Four years of continuous organism have an important role to balance our drought and acute water and power shortage ecosystem, which are interconnected to each ending, self sufficient agrilivelihoods has resulted other directly or indirectly.By vanishing of any in large scale migration up to 36.95%.The change one member of our ecosystem, the whole system

Table - 1. Different Metrological Parameters of eagles
was reported in the region.Haliaeetus Both the male and female take part in nest building.Their nests were reported in food abundance areas.Male brings most of the nest material and female arranges it at the nest.The nest is a bulky cup of sticks, lined with softer material and is placed in the fork of tree branch.The largest sticks were on the outer edge and the smallest in the center of the nest.Sometimes nests were decorated by bright materials such as white plastic and cotton.Nest building time was observed 10-15 days.Two-Three eggs are laid Breeding season was reported variable 15-20 days apart.Eggs are pinkish white in according to circumstances from December to colour.During the nestling period, male brings May.Some pairs laid eggs in December but the food to the nest while female begins spends most majority of eggs were reported in February.ofher time in incubation, feeding and caring for Several nesting sites have been reported in above Table-3.Population status of adults Milvusfemales) and the plumage characters (slightly migrans govinda (resident species) in study area different patterns of the breast feathers, white feathers around the base of the bill or broken flight feathers), respectively.Courtship includes spectacular aerial displays of mutual soaring, diving and foot touching.Mating takes place on a perch or nest.

Table 2 : Breeding and Roosting sites of Milvus migrans govinda in Bundelkhand Region nests
and 43 chicks in 2008, 42 nests and 78 in land use pattern, dependency of people on forests and scarcity of natural resources in this chicks in 2009, 40 nests and 75chicks in 2010.region has caused exploitation of dense forest.Highest numbers of chicks were reported in 2009.