Study of Certain Behaviours of Red Wattled Lapwings in Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary

Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary is a Ramsar site which is located within the Agra region of Uttar Pradesh, India. The Red Wattled Lapwing is a resident of South Asia and has distinct vocalisations and ground nesting habits. Field observations were conducted over a six-month period and data related to certain behaviours including feeding habits, courtship rituals and interaction with other species were collected. A finding suggests that Red Wattled Lapwing exhibits strong territorial behaviour with males actively defending nesting sites. The role of vocalisation is not just important in communication but also in mate attraction. They typically forage in groups and use a combination of sight and hearing to locate food. They are omnivorous and hence their diet is beneficial in changing environmental conditions where food availability may fluctuate. They also play a critical ecological role in regulating insect population in agricultural fields as they are insectivorous in nature. They can also serve as bioindicators due to their sensitivity to environmental changes.