Where have Gone the Most Common Bird ‘House Crow’ from Rural Areas of Punjab?

Indian House Crow (Corvus splendens) is a common bird of the crow family that is native to an extensive area of India, nearby parts of Asia, and the Middle East. It has a well-documented history as an invasive pest overseas, with extensive naturalized populations in Iran, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Burma, self-introduced to East Africa, Indian Ocean islands, Malaysia, and South Africa, and elsewhere. Indian House crows mainly travel on ships and ship assistance is the most likely pathway to introduce these birds to most parts of the world. These introductions were successful because of their strong nexus with human settlements. However, currently, I have seen a very large decline in the House Crow population in villages of Sangrur district and Bathinda district and heard a similar story from people from other districts of Punjab. Lack of research and understanding has worsened the rate of their disappearance. As birds act as biological indicator of the environment, they need to be saved before they become endangered like Vultures and Sparrows in Punjab, India.

Systematic position

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Corvidae

Genus: Corvus

Species: splendens

Taxonomy

Corvus splendens (C. splendens) is a widespread resident in India, Nepal and Bangladesh, and has a grey neck collar. The five subspecies of Corvus splendens are: C. splendens splendens, C. splendens zugmayeri, C. splendens protegatus, C. splendens maledivicus and C. splendens insolens [1]. The subspecies C. splendens splendens, C. splendens zugmayeri are found in the southern Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and western Rajasthan. C. splendens zugmayeri is also found in the dry parts of South Asia and Iran and it has a very pale neck collar. The subspecies C. splendens protegatus is found in coastal areas, Kerala, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka, and nearby islets. C. splendens maledivicus is found in the Maldives. The darkest form is the C. splendens insolens found in Myanmar and lacks the grey collar [2].

Description

House crows are predominantly black; medium-sized birds (42-44cm long (body and tail) and weigh 250-350g) with tails shorter than the wings and graduated or rounded at the back. Their plumage is rich black and glossy on the forehead, crown, throat, and upper breast, except for the nape, sides of the head, upper back, and breast, which are a lighter grey in colour. The Bill, tail, and legs are also black. The bill is stout with stiff and straight bristles that reach almost to the middle. The males and females are almost similar, but the males are slightly larger than the females [3]. All its names, the generic name, the English ‘crow’, the Sanskrit ‘kaka’, the Hindi ‘kawwa’, the Kannada ‘kaaga’ are derived from its characteristic calls, which is short, repeated harsh ‘caw caw caw’ or a nasal ‘kaankaan’ [4].

Diet

The House crow is the primary consumer and omnivorous in nature, feed largely on insects, small vertebrates, bird’s eggs, fledglings (birds, mammals, reptiles), seeds especially corn, fruits, and garbage [5]. Crow is extremely skilled in feeding; they feed on everything and anything that is edible whether alive or dead, that is why they are often considered as opportunistic and inventive feeders. They also feed on carrion [6]. They spend much time searching for food on the ground but occasionally feed in trees.

Habitat

This species shows great ecological flexibility and an obligate association with human presence, to the extent that no populations are known to live independently of humans [7]. In India, the crows are consequently found in all villages, towns, and cities, except in forests and high-altitude areas. This species is known to undertake altitudinal and seasonal local movements in colder northern areas of the country during winter. In most (if not all) locations, Indian house crow abundance is closely associated with human population size, due simply to the expanding amount of rubbish generated.

Behaviour

House Crows are highly vocal, gregarious birds, generally unafraid of humans. They are very aggressive, will attack and chase off any large bird of prey. It is uncannily and ceaselessly vigilant, day or night and is the first to detect intrusions and raise alarm. Breeding pairs repeatedly dive-bomb people and other predators, which approach too close to their nests.

Status

House Crow population has undergone a drastic decline in the last 10-12 years. House Crow and their habitats were virtually underneath noticing both ornithologists and academics, so few genuine investigations of the species were made, and the outcome is a continuing scarcity of hard data on the population ecology of this species.

Economic importance for humans: negative

Due to its preference for human settlements, the House Crow is considered a nuisance species, a competitor of native birds, and an agricultural pest. Large aggregations around buildings produce annoying noise. It is assumed that paramyxo viruses, for example, PMV 1 that causes Newcastle disease may be spread by House Crow. This is because; outbreaks of Newcastle disease in India were many times preceded by mortality in crows [8].

Economic importance for humans: positive

House crow is well named “Scavenger Bird” around the globe, they dispose considerable amount of unwanted garbage waste at damping sites. They were deliberately introduced into other countries mainly to aid in cleaning the environments especially the garbage [9]. They are important organisms in the food chain. They are also very much necessary for our urban ecosystems as they clean the garbage which we dump in our streets. Crows like other bird also eats some plant fruit with seeds (e.g., Azadirachta indica, Carica papaya, and Lycopersi conesculentum), therefore, helps in plant propagation by defecating viable seed contents. Crows are also seen removing ticks from cows and donkeys but occasionally on goats and sheep, so helps livestock keepers tending operation (livestock health).