Nesting of White-rumped Vulture (gyps Bengalensis,) in the Segur Plateau of the Nilgiri North forest Division, Tamilnadu, India

Breeding sites of critically endangered white- rumped vultures (Gyps bengalensis) were studied in the Segur plateau of Nilgiris from August 2011 to August 2012. Both direct survey on foot and questionnaire survey were conducted with local inhabitants in and around the study sites. In total, 68 nests of white-rumped vulture were observed in two different locations namely Jagulikadavu and Siriyur. All the nests were recorded on two woody species namely Terminalia arjuna (66 nest) and Spondias mangifera (2 nest). The nests were recorded at a height of 18-36 mts from the ground level. Nest materials such as twigs, dry leaves, grass, thermocol and even polythene covers were observed.