Status and Distribution of Indian Grey Hornbill in Specific Sites of Lucknow City, Uttar Pradesh, India

Hornbills (Bucerotidae) have a huge bill with a casque on upper mandible in some species. The casque is smaller in female in some species. Indian Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) is often found in dry deciduous woods, although these habitats have been disturbed by humans. Out of nine Hornbill species Indian Grey Hornbill have been studied most in some parts of India. Habitat destruction is the major cause of disturbance for the hornbill’s population. Regular observations for Status and Distribution of Indian Grey Hornbill were made during January to April in 2023 using Point count Method. Total of 5 sites were included for this study in Lucknow city. Few sites show good status of Indian Grey Hornbill whereas others show less number of species distribution. This may be because of the habitat and the availability of Fig trees which is the main diet of Indian Grey Hornbill. As hornbills depend on tree cavities for nesting, prior to road widening works, density of these birds was high on the trees of near buildings. This study evaluated that, with the removal of trees in the name of development and man- made disturbance the number of these birds decreased in Lucknow City. Habitats are threatened because of wood extraction, road construction, clearing of forest for power transmission lines and dying of nest trees