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1 July 2003 Nest Tree Utilization by the Malabar Grey Hornbill Ocyceros griseus in the Semi-Evergreen Forest of Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (S India)
Maheswaran Balaraman, Paramasivam Balasubramanian
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

The study was carried out between 2000 and 2002 in a semi-evergreen forest in the south-western portion of the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, India. A total of 81 cavities in 19 tree species were used for nesting by Malabar Grey Hornbills during the study. Three tree species: Lagerstroemia microcarpa, Terminalia bellirica and T. crenulata together made up 69% of all the nest trees used. The mean height of the nest trees was 36 ± 6 m, girth at breast height 3 ± 1 m and nest height 17 ± 6 m. 35 (67%) nest holes were re-used in 2001 while 21 (40%) nest holes were re-used in 2002. Terminalia crenulata was the tree re-used most often. Nest fidelity by the Malabar Grey Hornbill was reduced owing to competition by other cavity users.

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Maheswaran Balaraman and Paramasivam Balasubramanian "Nest Tree Utilization by the Malabar Grey Hornbill Ocyceros griseus in the Semi-Evergreen Forest of Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (S India)," Acta Ornithologica 38(1), 33-37, (1 July 2003). https://doi.org/10.3161/068.038.0108
Received: 1 November 2002; Accepted: 1 April 2003; Published: 1 July 2003
KEYWORDS
hole nesting birds
India
Malabar Grey Hornbill
nest site
Ocyceros griseus
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