Evaluation of Birds as Predators of Insect Pests Infesting Cauliflower

Role of birds in suppression of the insect pests of cauliflower was studied. Main bird species, Acridotheres tristis, Copsychus saularis, Corvus macrorhynchos, Dicrurus adsimilis, Muscicapa sibirica, Parus major, Passer domesticus, Pycnonotus cafer, Pycnonotus leucogenys, Saxicola caprata, Turdoides striatus and Zosterops palpebrosa were seen feeding on insect pests like Brevicoryne brassicae, Plutella xylostella, Thysanoplusia orichalcea, Pieris brassicae and Helicoverpa armigera in cauliflower crops. Among these species, Pycnonotus cafer used the perches maximum times 3.92 for picking up the insect larvae in cauliflower field. Significantly higher number of insect pests/plant were recorded in netted plots compared to open and perched plots showing the effect of bird predation. Also the net curd weight was maximum in perched plot (450.9g) and minimum in netted plot (403.9g) and seed yield (g/plant) was again maximum in perched plot (11.99g). This yield difference was due to lesser infestation of insect pests in perched and open plots.