Habitats and nesting habits of Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar in select wetlands in the northern districts of Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The habitats and nesting habits of Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar was studied in the Narrow Leaf Cattail Typha angustifolia (Typhaceae) wetlands in Ranipet, Kancheepuram, and Viluppuram districts of northern Tamil Nadu. A total of 349 nests, in various developmental stages, in 24 colonies and of 536 adult individuals were enumerated. Of these 349 nests, 43 nests were in wad stage, 28 in ring stage, 123 in helmet stage, 55 egg-chamber-closed stage, and 100 complete nests including two abnormal nests were recorded. Streaked Weaver used fibres of T. angustifolia for building nests. Females were also observed to be engaged in nest construction, while males placed blobs of cow dung on the inner or both walls of helmet stage nests before pairing with females; 88.7% helmet stage nests had deposition of cow dung on their inner walls and the remaining 11.3% nests had no such deposits. In 59% nests the entrance tubes were found facing east. They showed communal foraging and the flock size ranged from 50─80 birds. No antagonistic interactions were observed between Streaked Weavers and other species over sharing of common perching sites and foraging grounds. Harvesting of nest-supporting reeds and sightings of avian predators, such as House Crow Corvus splendens, Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos, and Rufous Treepie Dendocitta vagabunda near nest colonies may pose threats to Streaked Weavers.