BIRD COMPOSITION IN FOREST AND COASTAL ZONE OF PULAU TINGGI, JOHOR, MALAYSIA

Abstract

Documentation of bird composition on the islands around Peninsular Malaysia is scarce and the attention is mainly focused on Malaysia’s Borneo Islands. Therefore, this study aims to fulfil this knowledge gap by documenting the bird composition in Pulau Tinggi. The study was conducted from March to August 2019 using mist-netting and direct observation methods. A total of 39 bird species belonging to 24 families were recorded. Among these, 28 species were residents, four species were residents migrants and seven were migrants. Migrant species include Wood sandpipers (Tringa glareola), Common Sandpipers (Actitis hypoleucos), Malay Hawk-cuckoo (Hierococcyx fugax), Arctic- Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis), Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus), Siberian Blue Robin (Luscinia cyane) and Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Regarding conservation status, only one species was listed as Near Threatened: The White-chested Babbler (Trichastoma rostratum). Our result shows that the coastal area is more diverse (H=2.252) than the forest area (H=1.933). However, birds in the forest area were more evenly distributed with an evenness index score (forest = 0.5759) over (coastal=0.3806). Thus, we conclude that despite its small size, Pulau Tinggi accommodates a variety of bird species, where the conservation action plan for the continued survival of birds on this island needs to be implemented.