Impact of climate changes on the diurnal behaviour of some passerines in some selected habitats of central Punjab, Pakistan.

Present paper provides information on the impact of climate changes on diurnal rhythms of the four passerines viz, house sparrow (Passer domesticus Linn.), rosy starling (Pastor roseus Linn.), tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor Hirun.), and brown shrike (Lanius cristatus Linn.) for two years period in the four major agricultural habitats viz. Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Toba Tek Singh and Khanewal of Central Punjab, Pakistan. Effects of climate catastrophe have been seriously recognized as important inhibitory factors for birds' sustainable existence and conservation. Among the four habitats, present within 120 kilometre radius from Faisalabad district, observations were conducted weekly on active and passive foraging, and the roost exits and returns throughout the day. Weather changes viz. temperature, precipitation and relative humidity were critically recorded. Impacts of temperature were significant and resulted in decline of the active foraging for the four designated birds (ß= -2.36, -1.93,-2.15 and -1.64) whereas, precipitation due to its lowered frequency, exerted negative influence on the house sparrow and brown shrike, but was non-significant for rosy starling and tree swallows. Overall, temperature and relative humidity (RH) were the foremost climate factors and largely reduced the foraging and roosting movements of the four passerine birds'. Nonetheless, effects of lowered rainfall for the four habitats throughout this study were non-significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]