Environmental drivers of vigilance behaviour in painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala) nesting colonies.

Vigilance in animals, crucial for predator detection, impacts survival and reproduction by diverting time from activities like foraging and mating. Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala), a colonially nesting bird, experiences disturbances from avian predators and human presence while nesting in colonies across varied habitats in India. We measured environmental vigilance behaviour at two diverse types of nesting sites in North India, the National Zoological Park and Keoladeo National Park. We studied the study role of several variables viz. sex, nestling age, number of neighbours, number of visitors, and other variables on vigilance, by camera techniques. Our findings revealed significant sex-based differences, with males being more vigilant than females, likely due to their roles in territoriality, mate guarding, and nest protection. Parental vigilance increased as nestlings aged, underscoring its importance as parental investment. Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) indicated that number of visitors, number of neighbours, and other habitat variables significantly affected vigilance behaviour. Painted Storks at the National Zoological Park displayed higher vigilance than Storks in Keoladeo National Park, attributed to site specific variables.
Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical declarations This study was based on observational sampling from a safe distance and no animal handling was involved. Permissions for conducting field studies at National Zoological and Keoladeo National Park were obtained from respective authorities (National Zoological Park, New Delhi, and Office of Deputy Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), Bharatpur, Government of Rajasthan, vide letters F. No. 6 − 3/2005-NZP/Edn./376–379 and F. Miscellaneous II/ Subcontract/2023/5310, respectively).
(© 2024. The Author(s).)