NEST STRUCTURE AND NESTING ECOLOGY OF FERAL PIGEON (COLUMBA LIVIA) IN NANDED, MAHARASHTRA STATE

Feral pigeon Columba livia is one of the common bird species inhabiting in manmade structures though it may go for feeding away from nesting places. Cement concrete made buildings in use for Govt. departmental offices, educational Institutions, wear houses, sports complex, students hostels are mainly used by this species for nesting. In the current study it has been found adapted for use of readily available plant material to construct the nest. From observed three different types of total 133 nests 95 % were active and reused, 5 % were abandoned nests. Clutch size was 2 eggs per nest with overlapped breeding in 68.5 % nests. Safety of the nest and developing young, rich source of nesting material at selected nesting sites were the most preferred factors identified as main cause of expanding population of this pigeon. No predation of the eggs or young ones was recorded. Nuisance of faecal debris of this pigeon everyday in the main entrance corridor and office building verandas was most notable.