Abstract:
Studies to ascertain the population abundance of the rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri, in the plantations of two metropolis viz. Faisalabad and Chakwal, for five months, January through May, 2005, provide information that in the roost I, in January, 2005, number of departing parakeets in the early morning and late afternoon hours, three hours each, showed that 104 ± 3.44 SE, the number returning was fairly low, 44 ± 1.08; in the afternoon, the number departing was 45 ± 1.21, returning to the roost was 142 ± 3.77. In February, for similar time durations, the departing and arriving parakeets in the morning were 89 ± 2.68 and 34 ± 0.60, whereas in the afternoon, they were 21 ± 0.77; 181 ± 4.79. For March, the number recorded was 141 ± 4.10 and 23 ± 0.73 and for afternoon 27 ± 3.11, and 156 ± 4.57. Similarly, in April and May, the number leaving in the morning were 86 ± 2.80; 131 ± 4.75, while returning were 38 ± 1.18; 26 ± 0.78. For the afternoon, the arriving parakeets in roost I were 143 ± 4.21 and 138 ± 5.21, respectively. Observations in roost II, made in the same months, depict that the number of parakeets leaving the roost in the early morning hours were 66 ± 1.72, 11 ± 0.43, 88 ± 2.55 ± 25 ± 0.70, 155 ± 4.27, 14 ± 0.5575 ± 3.26, 19 ± 1.51 and 84 f 2.71, 31 ± 1.23, respectively. The number returning to the roost for similar monthly samples were 17 ± 0.58, 26 ± 0.99, 14 f 0.51, 138 ± 4.26, 55 ± 1.38, 168 ± 5.07, 7 ± 0.29, 146 ± 11.2 and 10 ± 1.99, 207 ± 5.32, respectively. Findings of the present studies suggest that there seemed an enhanced activity of the parakeets in the early morning hours following the nightly rest. Certain trees species like Salmalia malabarica, Dalbergia sissoo, Terminalia arjuna, Ficus bengalensis and Eucalyptus spp. are being used by the parakeets year after year, thus, more or less establishing permanent roosting sites to perform different diurnal activities viz. foraging and perching on temporary roosts, to find appropriate cover, to carry out courtship displays and moreover, to locate for the suitable breeding sites. Roost I, being larger in its dimensions, harbored more parakeets and as such, to perform the diurnal activities to a maximum.