Philippine E-Journals

Nesting and Reproductive Behavior of Pycnonotus goiavier (Scopoli) near Human Habitations: A Case of Induced Domesticity

Isidro T. Savillo | Elizabeth A. Villaluz

 

Abstract:

The habitat of Pycnonotus goiavier or yellow vented bulbuls spans the urban and the rural areas, including wetland areas (Rajpar and Zakaria 2011). This study was done to determine the extent of breeding of this species in residential gardens in Jaro, Iloilo City and Banate, Iloilo, monitor the factors that may be responsible for breeding in residential gardens, and formulate a Domesticity scale for wild birds based on the observations from this study. Data were gathered from observations in and around the researchers’ gardens. Results showed that a pair of P. goiavier could be domiciled in a residential garden that offers them protection during their nesting and brooding activities. The host plant could be re- nested or the old nest be re- used for the next breeding cycle. The breeding style of P. goiavier is somewhat associated with human presence. They build nests in residential gardens that o.er some sort of protection. Based on these observations and experiences of other researchers a Domesticity scale is proposed. P. goiavier in our study rates 3 on the proposed domesticity scale.