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Communal roosting behaviour of the black kite (Milvus migrans govinda) in an urban metropolis

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Abstract

Research on raptors in general in India is scanty, and it is practically non-existent on black kites (Milvus migrans govinda) which are the major scavenging raptor in many urban areas. The aim of this study was to analyse the seasonal abundance and roosting behaviour of black kites in an urban metropolis. Data on the abundance and behaviour of roosting black kites in this setting were collected using evening roost counts and ad-libitum sampling, respectively. Analysis was performed using separate generalized linear models considering roosting kite abundance, number of black kites arriving to roost and number of black kites showing pre-roosting display as response variables, respectively. We found that black kites roosted communally and that their number varied in different years and seasons, with the abundance highest in the summer and lowest during the winter. Pre-roosting displays also varied seasonally, being highest during the monsoon and at a minimum in the winter. In our urban setting, black kites arrived at the roosting sites mostly after sunset, and their arrival was influenced by sunset time, temperature, relative humidity and season. Some behavioural aspects of black kites within the roosts were also documented. This is the first quantitative assessment of roosting black kite abundance in Kolkata, India, and our data provide insight on the roosting behaviour of these birds relative to various environmental parameters.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the valuable suggestions and inputs by many ornithologists, naturalists and residents of Kolkata. Special thanks are due to Mrs. Bidisa Mazumdar for her regular assistance in the field during data collection and during data entry. We appreciate the permission given by the Executive Engineer of KMC (Parks and Square), the Head Master of Rajendra Siksha Sadan (Tollygunge, Kolkata) and the Curator of Victoria Memorial Garden (Kolkata) to carry out research activities inside their premises. We also express our gratitude to the Head, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta and the Principal, Shibpur Dinobundhoo Institution (College) for their encouragement and infrastructural support. Finally, we thank Dr. Fujita (Associate Editor) and two unknown reviewers who have helped us to improve this manuscript with their valuable comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Shibpur Dinobundhoo Institution (College), Shibpur, Howrah, India

    Subhendu Mazumdar

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India

    Subhendu Mazumdar & Goutam Kumar Saha

  3. Species and Landscapes Division, WWF-India, New Delhi, India

    Dipankar Ghose

Authors
  1. Subhendu Mazumdar
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  2. Dipankar Ghose
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  3. Goutam Kumar Saha
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Correspondence to Goutam Kumar Saha.

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This paper contains findings of our original research. There are no potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial) and no animal was harmed during the study. The expenses during the research were borne by the authors and not funded by any external agency.

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Mazumdar, S., Ghose, D. & Saha, G.K. Communal roosting behaviour of the black kite (Milvus migrans govinda) in an urban metropolis. J Ethol 35, 269–277 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-017-0516-x

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