Assessment of Population Status and Diurnal Behaviour of White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) in Ghachowk, Kaski, Nepal

Document Type : Research articles

Authors

1 Clean Energy Nepal, Mahalaxmisthan, Lalipur-44600, Nepal

2 School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Albany Campus, Palmerston North, New Zealand

3 College of Natural Resource Management, Faculty of Forestry, Agriculture and Forestry University, Katari-56310, Udayapur, Nepal

4 Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, Government of Nepal, Kathmandu-44600, Nepal.

5 Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Ghantaghar, Kathmandu-44600, Nepal.

Abstract

Vulture Safe Feeding Sites (VSFS) provide diclofenac-free food and create an ideal environment for long-term ecological research on vultures. This study determines the population status and investigates the diurnal behavior of White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) at the Ghachowk VSFS in Kaski, Nepal. We deployed the absolute count method to determine population of White- rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), while scan sampling was applied to investigate their diurnal behaviour. Throughout the daytime, a total of 1651 instances of 11 distinct activities were recorded for the species in 729 separate observations. The most frequent daytime behaviour observed was perching (28%) followed by preening (14%), basking (13%), scratching (13%) flapping (10%), flying (9%) and disturbance (7%). Other behaviors, like feeding, sleeping (roosting), fighting (competition), and bathing, were observed less frequently (<2% each). Perching occurred most frequently during heavy rain, accounting for 66% of the observations, and in the late afternoon, representing 36% of the instances. Basking was most commonly observed during partly sunny conditions, comprising 26% of the observations, and in the noon hours, representing 20% of the instances. Scratching behavior was most frequently observed during clear weather, accounting for 16% of the observations, and during cloudy conditions and in the morning, accounting for 14% of the instances. In the Ghachowk VSFS, other associated species with White-rumped Vulture were Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus, Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, and Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris.

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