The bird communities of a natural secondary forest and a Lophostemonconfertus plantation in Hong Kong, South China

Abstract

The avifaunas of a 30–40-year-old secondary forest and a 25–30-year-old Lophostemon confertus plantation were compared using the point count method over 1 year. Similar total numbers of bird species were recorded in the secondary forest (44 spp.) and the plantation (46 spp.) but many of those in the plantation were typical of non-forest habitats in Hong Kong and the number of forest-associated species was higher in the secondary forest. The mean total bird density in the secondary forest (44.5 ha −1) was much higher than in the plantation (12.4 ha −1). The Great Tit Parus major, Light-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus chinensis and Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonica were the three most abundant species at both the sites but their mean annual densities were all much higher in the secondary forest. There were relatively more granivores and insectivores and fewer insectivore-frugivores in the plantation. Twelve species were confirmed breeding in the secondary forest and none in the plantation.