Impact of Feral Dogs on Bird Community in Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan

Abstract

Study was carried out in Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary to assess the impact of feral dogs on various activities of different species of birds. During study, it was observed that the feral dogs could potentially affect foraging, feeding, resting, roosting and nesting activities of birds. Furthermore, feral dogs have an impact on several bird species by attempting to chase or catch them and dogs have successfully caught the birds on multiple occasions. During study, a total six types of impacts were observed on 52 bird species. Out of these, most of bird species affected by feral dogs create disturbances in their foraging and feeding activities (51 species) followed by trying to chase (43 species), disturbances in resting activities (30) and disturbances in roosting activities (12 species). It was found that feral dogs mainly attack on eight bird species namely Little Cormorant, Indian Cormorant, Indian Peafowl, White-breasted Waterhen, Common Coot, Red-wattled Lapwing, Black-winged Stilt and Rock Pigeon. Further impacts were observed on nesting and breeding behaviours of Red-wattled Lapwing and Black-winged Stilt. Frequent movement of feral dogs in different habitats had a negative impact on nesting and breeding activities of these birds. It has additionally led to an increase in alert, vigilance and anti-predatory behaviour towards the feral dogs. Time invested in vigilance and anti-predatory response, the incubation and behaviour of parental care were also influenced in birds. Additionally, with time invested in vigilance and an antipredatory response toward dogs, several times these species flied away from the dogs and left nests openly. Due to the absence of adult birds in nests, the risk of egg, hatchling and nesting predation was also increased by other predators like raptors, mongooses and snakes.