Impact of Nesting Materials on Breeding Success of Selected Avian Fauna: A Case Study from Agro-Ecosystem, Cauvery Deltaic Region of Tamil Nadu, Southern India

Avian fauna well effectively used the various habitats of agroforestry, farm lands, and other social forestry to increase their breeding success. The breeding success of seven different avian fauna was studied in agroforestry and its associated habitats. The highest number of bird nests were found in agroforestry; 111 nests were located in the trunks (middle) of the nesting plants. The nesting characteristics of the species were statistically significant (P < 0.01). The habitats did not show significant variations among the breeding characteristics of the birds (P > 0.05), but the height of nests varied significantly (P < 0.05). The nesting height from 4.0 to ≥ 6 m showed significant variations on the fledgling and nestling success (U-132, Z = 3.180, P < 0.001 and U-149, Z = − 1.958, P < 0.05) respectively than those of other classes of nests studied. The nesting materials significantly varied among the bird nests (P < 0.05). The nest height and feather (nesting material) influenced the clutch size and fledgling success of land birds by about 46% [F = (1,164) = 22.341, p = 0.000] and 37% [F = (1,164) = 13.070, P = 0.000], respectively. In fact, the presence of feathers in the nest also influenced the hatching success by 17% [F = (1,164) = 4,936, P < 0.028]. The results of the current study revealed that the ecological factors influence the breeding success of avian fauna especially the nest height and nesting materials showed significant effects.