Feeding behavior of parakeets on rice in Hill Region of Karnataka, India
1993
Chakravarthy, A.K. | Krishnappa, K. | Thyagaraj, N.E.
Roseringed parakeet Psittacula krameri Scopoli and blossom-headed parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala Linn. are the two main bird species that feed on rice in the Hill Region of Karnataka [India]. Foraging range of feeding flocks was 3-4 km and feeding range, 1.5-2.0 km. Flock size varied from 50 to 113 birds/ha (n=55). Rice feeding lasted up to 24 d. Parakeets depredated stacked panicles soon after harvest. Birds preferred harvested panicles to panicles on the standing crop because they could feed conveniently on grains without hovering. Panicle loss was computed as parakeets/ha x panicles/parakeet/day x feeding days. Panicle loss was converted to grain weight by counting and weighing all grains/panicle from a random sample of 100 panicles on eight different observation days. Total yield loss was categorized as depredative loss (grain consumed) and extra-depredative loss (grain spilled). Mean depredatory loss of 71.4% differed significantly (P=0.05) from the mean extra-depredative loss of 14.2% (n=8). Farmers lost 0.3 t/ha to parakeets. Rice crops from milk grain stage to harvesting need to be protected from parakeets
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