~ 151 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2015; 3(6): 151-155 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2015; 3(6): 151-155 © 2015 JEZS Received: 01-09-2015 Accepted: 02-10-2015 Hammad Ahmad Khan Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Muhammad Javed Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Muhammad Zeeshan Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Correspondence Hammad Ahmad Khan Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Damage assessment and management strategies for house crow ( Corvus splendens L) on the seedling stages of maize and wheat in an irrigated agricultural farmland of Punjab, Pakistan Hammad Ahmad Khan, Muhammad Javed, Muhammad Zeeshan Abstract The house crow (Corvus splendens L.) of the order ‘corvidae’, inhabits a wide range of habitats throughout the medium sized cultivations in the varied agro-ecosystems. In Pakistan, it roosts among light timbered vegetation, abandoned and old buildings and in close association with man. Crow roosts predominantly range from large to moderate depending on the availability of food resources and occurrence of predators. Crows are considered as potential vertebrate pest among varied habitats and depredate on seedling through mature stages of different crops. Moreover, their depredatory impacts have also been recorded on the post-harvested sheaves in good proportions. Present study was conducted to assess the damage caused by Corvus splendens to seedling stages of wheat and maize. For wheat, the damage profiles in the morning and evening remained maximum 15.34±1.27 through 17.94±2.24, while in the hawk eye protected conditions for the same morning and evening durations, lowered damage intensities 5.15±1.11 and 5.25±0.93 were recorded. For the maize in both the situations also depicted lower crow depredatory profiles, therefore, evincing the effectiveness of the hawk eye rotator. It remains pertinent the implication of various repellents should prove amply effective and sustainable for various cropping patterns as they are devoid of any of undesirable impacts on the cultivations, non-targeted species and sustainable agriculture, not only to promote better crops, but also improve on cost-effective ecosystem sustainability. Keywords: damage, wheat, maize, Corvus splendens, irrigated crops 1. Introduction The house crow (Corvus splendens L.), is considered as one of the important vertebrate pests throughout the cultivations, stored grains, human habitations and native wildlife [1] . It has also been reported to depredate on small breeding passerine birds and young chicks [2-4] the crow inhabits a wide range of habitats throughout Pakistan [5-7] and brings about considerable damage and resulting economic losses, and being a native of the sub-continent, its damage proportions have also been recorded in considerable proportions in India [8-13] . The crow is a crop-raider during the diurnal conditions and intermittently spoils various crops including the maize and wheat at different developmental stages besides the soft fruits viz. mangoes, paw paws and bananas, to cause them unsuitable for market selling [3] . Cultivations in Pakistan predominantly rely on multiple cropping practices spread over small ecological landscapes of about 12.5 acres, with the cropping of various food crops to facilitate the farmers, but have a major predicament with the small and large mammalian pests with a variety of birds’ to inflict significant damage and the resultant economic losses to affect farming communities and invariably on the national economy [14-18]. The crows often are a nuisance to people and can be inhibitory factor in reducing the visitations by the frequent travellers to the scenic habitats in many regions of the world [19] . Communal roosting among the members of the corvid family has been well recognized using radio-telemetry in the region of Queensland, Australia, with the old and permanent roosting sites, comprising the adults and natal populations [20] . The crows use light timbered vegetation in establishing their roosts alongside the close association with man in many village sides, towns and urban environment, where the daily visitations from and to their roosts to a variety of food sources result in a less expenditure of energy [21] . Damage caused by crows on grapes and almonds can be severe in various situations. Growers employ different strategies and techniques to combat crop loss including the use of repellents and avicides to reduce the crow depredations [22] .