INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

BIRD COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN SAINIK

SCHOOL KODAGU CAMPUS

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

Mr.N VIBIN KUMAR
HOD, BIOLOGY
 CERTIFICATE

Name : Cdt. Sharanabasu Dastaraddi

Class : XII B

School : Sainik School Kodagu

Roll No : 1032

Certified to be bonafide work done by

Cdt Sharanabasu Dastaraddi of class XII B during the year 2024-25.

Submitted for All India Senior School Certificate practical

examination held in biology lab at Sainik School Kodagu.

Date:

Mr N Vibin Kumar Examiner

HOD Biology
 Acknowledgement

I sincerely owe my gratitude to all the persons who helped and guided us in
completing this project work.

I would like to extend a special thanks to Mr. N. Vibin Kumar (HOD Biology)
for providing timely suggestions, encouragement and support to complete this project.

I am thankful to COLONEL AMARJEET SINGH, Principal and SQ LDR

MOHAMMAD SHAJI, Vice Principal, Sainik School Kodagu for having supported me
in my project work.

Next, I would like to thank Mrs. Kavya (Lab Asst) for helping me during the
project.

I thank Computer Science Dept. for providing the necessary facilities.

I would like to thank our ‘SAINIK SCHOOL KODAGU’ for allowing me to

utilize the resources.
 OBJECTIVE
The main aim of our study was to identify the different bird species in our
campus, to ascertain the population of each species and to find out the most
common and rare spotted species among them.
 CONTENTS

Sl. no Contents

01 Introduction

02 History

03 Procedure: Line transect method

and point count method

04 Observation

05 Bird survey in campus

06 Conclusion
 ORNITHOLOGY
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds.
Etymologically, the word "ornithology" derives from the ancient Greek words ornis
("bird") and logos ("rationale" or "explanation"). Several aspects of ornithology
differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic
appeal of birds. Most marked among these is the extent of studies undertaken by
amateurs working within the parameters of strict scientific methodology.

The science of ornithology has a long history and studies on birds

have helped develop several key concepts in evolution, behavior and ecology such
as the definition of species, the process of speciation, instinct, learning, ecological
niches, guilds, island biogeography, phylogeography and conservation.
 History
The history of ornithology largely reflects the trends in the history of
biology, as well as many other scientific disciplines, including ecology, anatomy,
physiology, paleontology, and more recently molecular biology. Trends include the
move from mere descriptions to the identification of patterns, and thus towards
elucidating the processes that produce these patterns.

Humans have had an observational relationship with birds since

prehistory, with some Stone Age drawings being amongst the oldest indications of
an interest in birds. Birds were perhaps important as a food source, and bones of as
many as 80 species have been found in excavations of early Stone Age settlements.
Waterbird and seabird remains have also been found in shell mounds on the island
of Oronsay off the coast of Scotland.

Cultures around the world have rich vocabularies related to birds. Traditional bird
names are often based on detailed knowledge of the behaviour, with many names
being onomatopoeic, many still in use. Traditional knowledge may also involve the
use of birds in folk medicine and knowledge of these practices are passed on
through oral traditions . Hunting of wild birds as well as their domestication would
have required considerable knowledge of their habits. Poultry farming and falconry
were practised from early times in many parts of the world. Artificial incubation of
poultry was practised in China around 246 BC and around at least 400 BC in Egypt.
The Egyptians also made use of birds in their hieroglyphic scripts, many of which,
though stylized, are still identifiable to species.
 Techniques
The tools and techniques of ornithology are varied and new inventions and
approaches are quickly incorporated. The techniques may be broadly dealt under the
categories of those that are applicable to specimens and those that are used in the
field, however the classification is rough and many analysis techniques are usable
both in the laboratory and field or may require a combination of field and laboratory
techniques.

Collections:
Bird preservation techniques

The earliest approaches to modern bird study involved the collection of eggs,
a practice known as oology. In order to preserve eggs, a tiny hole was pierced and
the contents extracted.

Morphometric measurements of birds

The use of bird skins to document species has been a standard part of
systematic ornithology. Bird skins are prepared by retaining the key bones of the
wings, leg and skull along with the skin and feathers. In the past, they were treated
with arsenic to prevent fungal and insect attack. Arsenic, being toxic, was replaced
by borax. This led to the formation of huge collections of bird skins in museums in
Europe and North America. Many private collections were also formed. These
became references for comparison of species and the ornithologists at these
museums were able to compare species from different locations, often places that
they themselves never visited.

Other methods

Other methods of preservation include the storage of specimens in spirit. Such wet-
specimens have special value in physiological and anatomical study, apart from
providing better quality of DNA for molecular studies. Freeze drying of specimens
is another technique that has the advantage of preserving stomach contents and
anatomy, although it tends to shrink making it less reliable for morphometrics.
In the field

The study of birds in the field was helped enormously by improvements in optics.
Photography made it possible to document birds in the field with great accuracy.
High power spotting scopes today allow observers to detect minute morphological
differences that were earlier possible only by examination of the specimen in the
hand.

A bird caught in a mist net

The capture and marking of birds enables detailed studies of life-history.

Techniques for capturing birds are varied and include the use of bird liming for
perching birds, mist nets for woodland birds, cannon netting for open area flocking
birds, the bal-chatri trap for raptors, decoys and funnel traps for water birds.

The bird in the hand may be examined and measurements can be made
including standard lengths and weight. Feather moult and skull ossification provide
indications of age and health. Sex can be determined by examination of anatomy in
some sexually non-dimorphic species. Blood samples may be drawn to determine
hormonal conditions in studies of physiology, identify DNA markers for studying
genetics and kinship in studies of breeding biology and phylogeography.

Techniques for estimating population density include point counts,

transects and territory mapping. Observations are made in the field using
carefully designed protocols and the data may be analysed to estimate bird diversity,
relative abundance or absolute population densities. These methods may be used
repeatedly over large time spans to monitor changes in the environment. Camera
traps have been found to be a useful tool for the detection and documentation of
elusive species, nest predators and in the quantitative analysis of frugivory, seed
dispersal and behaviour.
 Line transect method

Clear a line transect where there are maximum numbers of birds.

The observer walks with moderate speed on a straight line observing the birds
on his left and right.

As observer moves along a line transect he counts each bird detected.

The count of birds is noted.

Then a graph is drawn of number of different birds.

Compare the number of birds and analyze the results.

 Point count method
. Perhaps the simplest method of counting birds is called a "point count", in
which a trained observer records all the birds seen and heard from a point count
station for a set period of time.

A series of point counts completed over a fixed route can then be compared to
the results of the same point counts in other seasons or years.
 OBSERVATION
FOLLOWING WERE THE BIRDS FOUND IN SAINIK SCHOOL KODAGU
CAMPUS

Sl.No Name of Bird Code Used

1 Common myna A
2 Jungle myna B
3 House crow C
4 Jungle crow D
5 Rose ringed parrot E
6 Scaly breasted munia F
7 Barn swallow G
8 Red whiskered bulbul H
9 Red vented bulbul I
10 Black kite J
11 Black drongo K
12 White browed wagtail L
13 Tytler leaf wabbler M
14 Southern coucal N
15 Dusky craig martin O
16 Vernal hanging parrot P
17 Chestnut headed beater Q
18 Orange minivet R
19 Yellow watted lapwing S
20 Common hoopoe T
21 House sparrow U
22 Paddy field pipit V
23 Purple sunbird W
24 Indian peafowl X
25 Brahaminy kite Y
26 Black winged kite Z
27 Red collared dove Aa
28 Yellow wagtail Ba
29 White throated kingfisher Ca
30 Oriental white eye Da
31 Red watted lapwing Ea
32 Malabar grey hornbill Fa
 33 Cattle egret Ga
34 Little egret Ha
35 Spotted dove Ia
36 Asian koel Ja
37 Grass hopper warbler Ka
38 Indian blue robin La
39 Common goldenback Ma
40 Common pigeon Na

BIRD SURVEY IN CAMPUS

The No. of the birds found in line transect NEW SCHOOL BUILDING –
HORSE STABLE , SCHOOL GATE – OLD SCHOOL BUILDING ,
GENERATOR ROOM TO RIVER SIDE during the months June, July, November
and December are summarized in the given 4 tables.

There were only 3Black drongo spotted during the study.

The following birds are seen very rare

1.House sparrow

2.Red collared dove

3.Yellow wagtail

4.White throated kingfisher

5.Black drongo
DATA OF BIRDS IN JUNE:
 Axis Title

10
12

0
2
4
6
8
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
AVERAGE GRAPH

V
W
JUNE-2024

X
Y
Z
Aa
Ba
Ca
Da
Ea
Fa
Ga
Ha
ANALYSIS:

Ia
Ja
Ka
La
Series1

Ma
DATA OF BIRDS IN JULY:
 AVERAGE GRAPH ANALYSIS:
JULY-2024
20

18

16

14

12

10

8 Series1

0
Ga

Ja
Ea
F
A

H
I

Ha
Ia
B

D
E

J
G

L
M
N

P
O

Q
R
S
T

V
W
X
Y
Z
Aa

La
Ba

Da

Fa

Ka

Ma
Ca
DATA OF BIRDS IN NOVEMBER:
 AVERAGE GRAPH ANALYSIS:
NOVEMBER-2024

20

18

16

14

12

10
Series1

0
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Aa Ba Ca Da Ea Fa GaHa Ia Ja Ka
DATA OF BIRDS IN DECEMBER:
 AVERAGE GRAPH ANALYSIS:
deceMBER-2024
16

14

12

10

8
Series1
6

0
Ga

Ja
Ea
B

Ia
A

E
F

H
I

P
C
D

R
S
T
G

L
M
N

U
V
W
X
O

Y
Z
Aa

La
Ba
Ca
Da

Fa

Ka

Ma
Ha
 Conclusion
The study clearly shows that there is a marked difference in the
population of birds observed during rainy and winter season.
Infact the numbers of birds observed were more in the winter
season compared to rainy season. The reason may be less
sightings during rainy season. On a whole around 31 species of
birds have been recorded in the campus. It would be interesting if
the same study is carried out in spring and summer as we may
come across a lot of new species which are migratory. Myna was
the most common bird observed in the campus and the study
shows that the bird has adapted itself well to live along human
habitations. Grass hopper warbler and common golden back were
the few species which were spotted less. This may be because
these birds prefer undisturbed forest habitat
.
 Bibliography
1. Google
2. Wikipedia
3. Standard book of Indian sub continental birds
4.Buckland,S.T,Anderson,D.R,Burnham,K.P,Laake
,J.l.,Borchers,D.L,and Thmos,L.Introduction to
Distance Sampling,Oxford University Press ,
Oxford.