Some studies grouped variables into microhabitat and macrohabitat (Woodford et al. The combination of nest sites and buffers around nests can give a better understanding of habitat models (Mateo-Tomás and Olea 2009). 2006 Ruddock and Whitfield 2007 Solonen 2011). The effect of changes in the nesting habitat of raptors differs at different scales (Dean 2006 López-López et al. Forest structures and forestry stages can influence the location of nest sites of forest-dwelling raptors (Lõhmus 2006), and in forests used by people species-specific management may be necessary to conserve some raptors (Smith 2012). The relationship between raptors and timber harvesting has been studied elsewhere for a variety of species (Penteriani and Faivre 2001 Smith 2003 Lõhmus 2005 Treinys and Mozgeris 2006) however, no studies about the relationship between brahminy kite nest sites, forestry, and habitat variables in mangrove forest ecosystems have been conducted. Understanding how wildlife species respond to changes in their breeding habitats is particularly important for management. Thus far, the only study of brahminy kites in the MMFR has been about the distribution of nests in part of the vast mangrove forest (Indrayanto 2011). More than 100 nests of brahminy kites occur in the MMFR (Indrayanto 2011), and the population there is almost certainly the largest in Malaysia. The brahminy kite is the most common raptor species in the Sundarbans and comprises 67% of 5154 records of individual raptors (Sarkar 1986). 1994 Jayabalan 1995 Sivakumar and Jayabalan 2004 Lutter et al.
![brahminy kite brahminy kite](https://static.thainationalparks.com/img/species/2014/03/11/8082/brahminy-kite-flying-w-900.jpg)
The few studies that exist are mostly from India and Australia, and focus on breeding biology, ecology, and behavior (Balachandran and Sakthivel 1992 Morrison et al. The brahminy kite is categorized as Least Concern because of its large range and large population size (BirdLife International 2014a), but it is little studied. The brahminy kite seems to be dependent on extensive mangrove forests, at least in the Sundarbans and the MMFR (Sarkar 1986 Balachandran and Sakthivel 1992 Indrayanto 2011). They build a single nest each year, sometimes refurbishing old nests and sometimes building new nests nearby old ones. Brahminy kites are resident and territorial. The primary habitat of the species is broad, muddy, mangrove-backed intertidal flats (Wells 1999). It inhabits coastal areas (Robson 2002), large estuaries, and low-relief coasts.
![brahminy kite brahminy kite](https://www.birdsinbackyards.net/sites/www.birdsinbackyards.net/files/styles/extra-large/public/forum/alcatraz/images/Brahminy%20Mar20%20lge2.jpg)
The brahminy kite Haliastur indus (Boddaert, 1783) is a conspicuous raptor with a large range in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australia (BirdLife International 2014a). The importance of the MMFR has been recognized for a variety of species (Muda and Nik Mustafa 2003). The area around the MMFR supports a wide variety of human activities, including a thriving wild and farmed fishing industry, forestry and reforestation programs, a mangrove nursery, traditional charcoal processing sites, and tourism (including bird-watching) (Wong 2004 Awang-Noor 2005). The MMFR is a national heritage site and an economic asset because of its natural (renewable) resources and the job opportunities for the local community employment in forestry work (Ismail et al. Although the Sundarbans (in the Indian subcontinent) is the largest mangrove forest in the world (Saha 2013), the MMFR is recognized as the best sustainably managed mangrove ecosystem (Muda et al. 2005 Gopal and Chauhan 2006).Ĭovering 40,483 ha, the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve (MMFR) comprises about 39% of the total mangrove forest in Peninsular Malaysia (Latiff 2005). Despite the importance of mangrove ecosystems, the relationship between them and wildlife is poorly known (Ismail et al.
![brahminy kite brahminy kite](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/12/7a/02/127a02cddd97b37023e9117b42c06279.jpg)
The total area of mangroves in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world is estimated at 137,760 km 2, 42% of which occurs in Asia (Giri et al. Thus, environmental variables could affect selection of nest trees of the brahminy kite in larger scales and should be considered in biological aspects of mangrove forests.Īpproximately one-third of the world's mangrove forests have been lost in the past 50 years (Alongi 2002). The average height of nest trees (19.2 ± 2.2 m) was significantly higher than adjacent trees (8.4 ± 6.8 m) ( p 0.05), that is, nests were far from areas inhabited by humans. Field observations were made during the breeding season from March to May 2012 within the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nine forestry and habitat variables on nest number of a dominant raptor (brahminy kite) at six distance buffers in a Rhizophora mangrove forest. Despite the vast range of the brahminy kite Haliastur indus in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australian regions, the species is little studied.