Time-activity budget and seasonal behavioural patterns of Ibisbill (Ibidorhyncha struthersii) in the Kashmir Himalaya, India

The Ibisbill (Ibidorhyncha struthersii) is a distinctive wader of high-altitude river systems associated with shingle beds and braided glacial rivers of the Himalayan landscape. Understanding its activity time budget is crucial for elucidating behavioural strategies that facilitate survival in its challenging environment. This study investigates the diurnal activity patterns of Ibisbill across a seasonal gradient, emphasizing foraging, maintenance, vigilance, and locomotion behaviours. Ibisbill was found to spend the majority of time on foraging activity (50%), followed by resting (27%), locomotion (10%), others (7%), and alertness (6%). Annual activity time budget sowed no significant difference, however, seasonal data revealed that the bird spent most of its time on foraging during winter season (60.55±1.15) and minimum in spring (41.78±1.42) season. The locomotion time also varied among the seasons with maximum locomotion (14.36±0.17) in summer and minimum in spring season (6.16±0.6%). Diurnal rhythm of foraging activity showed a maximum peak in the morning hours (08:00 to 10:00) whereas in winter, the maximum peak was observed in the afternoon (12:00 to 15:00) associating with ice melting along river edges. This study enhances understanding of the behavioural ecology of Ibisbill, providing critical insights into habitat use and activity patterns that are essential for developing effective long-term conservation and management strategies in high-altitude riverine ecosystems.