Effects of Seed Size and Water on Some Granivorous Birds Feeding in Jos Zoological Garden, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

The effect of seed size and water on some grain-eating birds feeding in the Jos Zoological garden was determined. A total of 110 individual birds belonging to 10 species were encountered. Various grain types were put in 4 trays in the study site. The abundance of birds seen across trays varied significantly (Adjusted R² = 0.6908, F₁₀₇ = 3.721, P – value = 0.01367) while the abundance seen across sites showed no significant difference (Adjusted R² = 0.01725, F₁₀₉ = 2.931, P – value = 0.08976). There was correlation between bill size and the grain size. Finches were attracted to smaller grains and doves with larger bill were attracted to largre grains, though they visited both the large and the small grains. Proximity to water during this research being rainy season did not influence the abundance of bird species. Accessibility influenced the abundance of bird species.

Keywords: Granivorous birds, seed size, bill size, feeding adaptation, Zoological Garden.