Study on the Migratory and Dweller Birds of Band-Khushdil Khan Lake, Pishin, Pakistan Associated with Population Decline Risk Factors

Abstract

<i>Band-Khushdil Khan</i> lake in <i>Pishin (Balochistan)</i> support migratory <i>bird</i> population during their seasonal migration. The lake is an important stopover for migratory and native bird species. Due to habitat loss, hunting and trapping of birds, a large number of species are under threat and also result in a wide variety of biological changes, population, community and ecosystem level, which in turn extremely affect the survival of aves fauna. Therefore, to fill this gap of scientific knowledge, the present study was conducted with the aim to explore the population status of migratory and native birds of Band-Khushdil Khan lake and to determine the major threats to these birds of the area as it was ignored since long. Data was massed during the period from August 2020 to December 2021 by visiting the field and by communicating with the residents and hunters about the current and past status of the avian fauna of the study area. A total of 87 bird species were recorded belonging to 15 orders and 36 families inhabit the area. Order Passeriformes was the most abundant order with 27 representative species followed by Anseriformes with 16 species. Most of the migratory birds were found winter visitors and more abundant than native birds and summer visitors. The fauna was not very rich due to the lack of flora of the area and also due to more hunting and drainage of water from the lake for agriculture purposes. Orders Passeriforemes, Anseriformes, Charadriformes, Ciconiiformes, Falconiformes, Pterocliformes, Piciformes, Otidiformes, Passeriforemes, Pelecaniforme were found migratory, and orders Strigiformes, Columbiformes, Galliformes, Accipitriformes, Falconiformes were found resident while few members of Passeriforemes and Pelecaniformes were found migratory and few residents. In this study it was observed that feeding and habitat availability play important roles in the diversity and distribution of the avian fauna of area. It was also found that birds are intensively hunted and captured in their native range in and nearby the lake, owing to which local populations could be declining. Based on the present investigations, it is suggested that priority actions for the conservation of threatened birds and species of specific conservation interest should be supervised by responsible organizations to reestablish bird’s biodiversity in Band-Khushdil Khan lake (Pakistan). Possible proposed actions include appropriate management of network site, monitoring of migratory and native birds population, and the founding of projects on bird’s migration and freshwater reservoirs safety in the region.