Nest site selection by the Indian sarus crane in the paddy crop agroecosystem Original Research Article

The Indian sarus crane Grus antigone antigone (Linn.) is a globally threatened species and occupation of agricultural landscape has led to a hidden conflict with the farmers in the Kheda district of Gujarat, India. It is important to understand the nest site selection to design management strategy for the conservation of the species. The sarus crane nested in seven of eight microhabitats identified in the study area. Most nests were in agricultural marshland (97.14%). Nesting sites on paddy field bunds and marshy wasteland had a common feature in that they were on elevated land within an inundated area. However, selection of non-cultivable agricultural marshland was more common than cultivated paddy crop area. The nest size was a function of microhabitat used for nesting. The nests were largest in non-cultivable marshy wasteland followed by bund of non-cultivable marshland and within standing paddy crop fields. Water depth near nest and nest height from ground were positively correlated. Survival of young was higher in nests in non-cultivable marshland than in paddy cultivated areas. Maintenance of small patches (i.e. 100 m2 area) of non-cultivable marshland within agricultural landscapes is advocated for conservation of the species.