Survey Of Avifauna Research Articles

Three decades of land use and land cover changes in an East African lake and their implications for the conservation of bird communities

AbstractLand use and land cover (LULC) dynamics using GIS and remote sensing techniques measure extent and spatial structure, which are critical for monitoring biomes. A digital LULC detection technique with multi‐temporal satellite imagery analysis was employed at four timepoints from 1987 to 2017 and performed using supervised classifications method in ERDAS imagine 2015. For image classification, the five major LULC types included forests, built‐up land, agricultural land, water bodies and grasslands. LULC of grasslands, forests and water bodies reduced, while LULC of agricultural and built‐up lands increased. Avifaunal surveys were conducted at 11 sites across the LULC classes to compare species richness and abundance. The decrement of forests and water bodies would result in habitat loss, affecting endemic and threatened avifauna, as forests showed highest avifaunal species diversity (H′ = 3.80). Despite the decrement, grasslands demonstrated higher avifaunal species richness (107) and abundance (2767). Species richness decreased significantly from grasslands to water bodies and agricultural land (p < 0.05), and from forests to agricultural and built‐up land (p < 0.05), and water bodies (p < 0.01). Avifaunal abundance decreased significantly from grasslands to all other LULC classes. Regular LULC change assessment is integral to avifaunal habitat and biodiversity conservation efforts, particularly at Lake Tana.

A Preliminary Survey of the Avifaunal Diversity in Pampaimadu Premise of the University of Vavuniya, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka

Vavuniya is a lowland dry zone district of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, which is still unexplored with a natural forest cover of 1,238 km2. Even though there are many kinds of literature concerning the water birds of the Vavuniya, the diversity of tropical avifaunal species is still a gap which was the light of this study. The study area is situated 10 km from the center of Vavuniya along the A30 highway, with the dry-mixed evergreen forest as vegetation. The district is located within the dry zone which experiences a mean temperature of 28° C and annual rainfall of 1,400 mm. It also consists of 02 adjoined tanks along the boundary. The study points were used for the avifaunal survey during mid of March to end of July 2022. Habitat diversity within the study area was discussed using a prepared checklist and the community indices like the Shannon-Weiner index (H‘), Simpson‘s diversity index (D), Simpson‘s evenness (E), and Species richness (R) across various habitats ecosystem: Woodland-Paddy land (H1); Woodland-Water catchment area (H2); Forest (H3); Grassland with inundated land ecosystem (H4); and Manage Garden with Occasional trees (H5) of the study area. The checklist resulted in a total observation of 93 avifaunal species including 87 resident and 06 migrant species belonging to 47 families (including 09 endemics, and 05 nationally threatened species). Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) belongs to Family Columbidae with the highest frequency (68%, n=123) and is evenly distributed across different habitats but the family Ardeidae is found extensively dominating in H5 (39%). H1 is with the highest H‘ (3.5) and D (0.96); while H3 has the highest R (2.52) and E (0.62). The seasonally inundated habitats H2 and H4 bring water birds to the study area. It also increases the availability of avifaunal insectivores. Many anthropogenic disturbances, such as habitat alterations, intentional wildfire, and road mortality are the key threats encountered by the avifaunal species in the study area. In addition to that, the activity of stray dogs within the premises was observed to be a potential threat during the breeding season. Appropriate conservation strategies including landscape management, conservation of available forest land, and proper awareness of neighboring local communities are necessary to maintain the current ecological status. 
 Keywords: Avifauna, Checklist, Habitat variation, Species diversity, Vavuniya

Exploring the Rich Tapestry of Aquatic Bird Life: A Comprehensive Survey of Naaj River in Kathua District, Jammu, India

A preliminary survey of avifauna was carried out along the Naaj River in the Billawar region of the Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir, aimed at assessing the diversity of aquatic birds. The field study spanned from October 2020 to September 2021, utilizing the point count method to document the diversity and relative abundance of bird species. Results revealed a total of 37 aquatic bird species, distributed across 8 orders and 17 families within the surveyed river. The Shannon Wiener diversity index was employed to calculate bird diversity, ranging from H’= 2.599±1.07 to H’= 3.343±1.81. Species richness, measured by the Margalef index, varied from 6.58±2.41 to 7.18±2.41. Among the 37 bird species observed, 22 were categorized as common, 8 as rare, and 7 as abundant in the study area.

Avian Community Structure of Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve, Haridwar, Uttarakhand

A survey of avifauna was carried out in Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve (JJCR) of Haridwar Forest Division, Uttarakhand during 2018-2020. Point count method was used to count birds in six habitats viz., plantation, mixed forest, riverine habitat, scrub forest, grasslands and agriculture field. In total, 170 species of birds representing 16 orders and 64 families were recorded. The dominant order was Passeriformes, while the dominant foraging guild was insectivore birds. Most of the bird species were resident. The overall bird species diversity was 4.126. JJCR harbours 10 species of globally threatened avifauna including 3 Critically Endangered, 3 Endangered, and 4 Vulnerable species; in addition, the reserve also has 8 species of Near Threatened birds. The present documentation of avian community structure would help in developing conservation plan of this IBA.

An annotated checklist of birds of the Dinagat Islands, Philippines

The Dinagat Islands hold a large and varied avian fauna with high rate of endemism and species of conservation concern. However, anthropogenic activities pose a grave threat to the avian diversity of these islands. We conducted a three-year (2017–2019) avifaunal survey using mist-nets to inventory the avian species of the islands. We recorded 37 species in 22 families. Seventeen species are Philippine endemic, one species is of conservation concern, and two species are newly recorded from the Dinagat Islands. We also present an annotated checklist of bird species of the Dinagat Islands based on our own surveys, three published studies, and an online database; 246 species in 71 families are included. The results of our study highlight the need for further assessment to conserve the island’s avifaunal community, especially with increasing threats of anthropogenic disturbance.

Avifaunal Survey of Bukit Balingkadus, A Small Fragmented Forest in Ranau, Sabah, Malaysia

An avifaunal survey was carried out at Bukit Balingkadus Forest Reserve in Ranau, Sabah, Malaysia. The MacKinnon List method was used to assess species diversity. The four-day survey recorded a total of 16 MacKinnon lists with 388 individuals detected. A total of 86 species from 37 families were recorded, with H=3.89 and EH=0.65. True species richness was estimated (using SuperDuplicates® online calculator) to be approximately 114 species, with approximately 28 species not detected. There were 13 species of Bornean endemics, two of which were listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Pycnonotidae was the most speciose family with 10 species. Cuculidae and Megalaimidae were ranked second with 6 species each. Zosteropidae had the highest number of individuals at 47. The top ten most detected species made up 49.5 % of all species detected. The most detected species was the Chestnut-crested Yuhina (Zosteropidae). The majority of the species detected (81) were forest-dependent, of which 60 were strictly forest birds. Insectivores made up the most dominant dietary guild, i.e., a total of 41 species (from 22 families). Frugivores ranked second with 29 species from 10 families.

Determining High Conservation Values in Production Landscapes: Biodiversity and Assessment Approaches

Conversion of natural, heterogenous tropical forests to intensively managed, monoculture-production landscapes is a major threat to biodiversity. This phenomenon is driven by global demand for commodities such as wood, palm oil, sugar, and soybean. The economies of many countries in tropical areas depend on these commodities, and there is a need to ensure economic welfare while protecting biodiversity. Certification schemes such as those developed by the Forest Stewardship Council and Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil are intended to provide incentive to companies to employ environmentally and socially sustainable production practices. One element of these certification schemes is the concept of High Conservation Values (HCVs) which fall into six categories that encompass ecological indicators and human dimensions. The HCV process has expanded beyond production landscapes to include long-term conservation planning. Despite expansion, implementation of the HCV process as it pertains to biodiversity is challenged, in part, by a lack of specificity regarding target metrics. Another challenge is that, in practice, there is a short time period for assessment, resulting in limited collection of primary data and a reliance on secondary data sources for interpolation. HCV guidance advances a precautionary approach to assessment, but in some regions, there is not enough known about the biology, behavior, or interspecific associations of species to effectively assess what is not observed. In this paper, we assess environmental HCVs in a well-studied timber production system in Sarawak, East Malaysia. Using an original long-term multi-method dataset of avifaunal surveys as well as published datasets of other taxa, we 1) assess biodiversity metrics at the site including presence of Rare, Threatened, and Endemic species, 2) assess change over time at assessment locations, and 3) evaluate costs and benefits of the various methods and provide best practice recommendations for HCV assessment and long-term monitoring. Finally, we recommend transparent data-archiving and sharing for improved accuracy and efficiency in the HCV process. Managed landscapes are important areas for ecological research that are beneficial not only to the restoration and conservation of species and ecosystems but also to well-informed certification and long-term sustainability.

Survey of avifauna housed in the wild animal triage centers in the state of Bahia, period 2009 to 2019, emphasizing trafficking

ABSTRACT: Brazil is one of the primary suppliers of wildlife for trafficking, which constitutes a significant threat to biodiversity, which can cause the extinction of species, especially birds, the most important victims of trafficking. This study analyzed the wild avifauna collected in the Triage Centers of Wild Animals (CETAS) of Bahia, to inventory the most apprehended species that are threatened with extinction, and estimate the municipalities that function as suppliers and traders of wildlife. Data from 2009 to 2019 were made available by the Salvador and Vitoria da Conquista units, and that from 2010 to 2016 was made available by the, Porto Seguro unit. The survey was conducted through the entry records of birds, considering apprehension, spontaneous deliveries, rescues, and transfers between units involved in the study. Out of the total 80,948 birds analyzed, 65,315 (80.68%) were apprehended; 7,885 (9.74%) were voluntary deliveries; 6,196 (7.65%) were rescues, and 1,034 (1.28%) were transfers. There was no entry modality for 518 (0.64%) specimens. The most trafficked species were Sicalis flaveola (Saffron Finch), Sporophila nigricollis (Yellow-bellied Seedeater), Paroaria dominicana (Red-cowlead Cardinal), Cyanoloxia brissonii (Ultramarine Grosbeak), Sporophila caerulescens (Double-collared Seedeater), and Sporophila albogularis (White-throated Seedeater). Nine hundred twenty six specimens exhibited some threat. Analysis showed that the greatest flow of bird traffic occurs on BR 242 and BR 116. The municipalities that comprise the mesoregions Center-South, Center-North Baiano, and the Metropolitan Region of Salvador are those with greater concentrations of illegal activity. Irecê and Paulo Afonso constitute areas for the capture and commercialization of wild animals.

Survey of Avifauna of Bahula Dam and its Nearby Areas of Pachora, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Birds play a significant role in many ecosystems by providing a variety of ecological services. Birds eat pests, pollinate flowers, disperse seeds, scavenge carrion, cycle nutrients, and change the environment for the benefit of other species. In this study attempt has been made to record bird diversity at Bahula Dam and its nearby area during January 2020 to June 2021. This is the first avifauna report of Bahula dam and its nearby area. In the survey study total 108 species including water and the land birds were recorded belonging to 16 avifaunal orders and 46 families. Order Passeriformes is dominant in the study area, including 23 families and 44 species (40%), followed by Ciconiformes with 3 families and 11 species (10%), Ansariformes with 1 family and 9 species (8%), Coraciiformes with 4 families and 7 species (6%), Charadriformes with 4 families and 6 species (5%), This survey study represents that species diversity is abundant in spite of many anthropogenic activities. More studies are required to make a complete list of available bird species of this area.

Avian Diversity and Abundance in the Machhaplan Complex, Hetauda, Nepal

Avifaunal survey was carried out in Machhaplan Complex, Hetauda from December 2020 to April 2021. The objective of the study was to assess the avian species diversity, richness and abundance. A total of 164 bird species belonging to 19 orders and 59 families were recorded by using Point Count Method. Out of these, 117 species were terrestrial and 47 species were wetland dependent. Passeriformes and Muscicapidae were the most dominant orders and families, respectively with 73 and 12 species. The most abundant species was House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) (n=156). There were 109 resident species, 43 winter visitors, and 12 summer visitors among the recorded species. Common birds accounted for 41% of the total followed by uncommon birds, Rare birds, and Very Common birds with 33%, 17%, and 9%, respectively. Of the total recorded species, two species were Globally Threatened and nine species were Nationally Threatened. Terrestrial birds had the highest Shannon’s Diversity Index (H=3.97) and Margalef 's Richness Index (R=15.53) whereas wetland birds had the highest Pielou's Evenness Index (E=0.86). The assessment of avian diversity suggests that s Machhaplan Complex offers a suitable habitat for avifauna.

AVIFAUNAL DIVERSITY OF NIHARI TAWI RIVER IN DISTRICT RAJOURI, JAMMU AND KASHMIR UT, INDIA

An avifaunal survey was conducted at river Nihari Tawi, district Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir for one and half year, starting from November 2015 to April 2017.The study reveals a rich avian diversity and a total of 122 species of birds belonging to 50 families were identified.As the water of the Nihari Tawi rich in dissolved oxygen and supports variety of aquatic fishes makes it suitable for birds and attracts many migratory birds in the particular region during the winters. Continuous monitoring of the avifaunal diversity is required to evaluate the ecological status of the birds and their habitats.Birds plays an important role in maintaining the ecological balance.Due to increase in urbanization and various anthropogenic activities,diversity and distribution of bird’s species is on declining trend all over the globe.Therefore,it is our prime concern to conserve the avifaunal diversity for maintaining the nature’s balance.

Avifaunal survey of Mengilan Forest Reserve and its surrounding areas in Pensiangan, Sabah, Malaysia

An avifaunal survey was carried out at Mengilan Forest Reserve. The MacKinnon List method was used to assess species diversity. The three-day survey recorded a total of 18 lists with 486 individuals detected. Seventy-five species from 33 families were recorded, with H=3.86 and EH=0.62. True species richness was estimated (using SuperDuplicates® online calculator) to be approximately 91 species, with approximately 16 species not detected. The seven Bornean endemics detected were: Black-crowned Pitta, Bornean Leafbird, Bornean Black Magpie, Bornean Necklaced Partridge, Dusky Munia, White-crowned Shama and Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker. Pellorneidae (jungle babblers) and Pycnonotidae (bulbuls) were the most speciose families with six species. Nectariniidae (sunbirds and spiderhunters) and Cuculidae (cuckoos) each had five species. Timaliidae had four species. Apodidae (swifts), Pycnonotidae and Cisticolidae (warblers) had the highest percentages of individuals detected with 10.7%, 9.7% and 8.4%, respectively. The five species with the highest relative abundance index were Silver-rumped Spinetail (0.084), Dusky Munia (0.058), Yellow-bellied Prinia (0.045), Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot and Green Iora (both 0.043) and the Eurasian Tree Sparrow (0.039). The majority of the species detected (68) were forest-dependent species. Of these, 55 species were strictly forest birds. Insectivores made up the most dominant dietary guild, i.e., a total of 46 species (from 21 families) with 41 species in 18 families being strict insectivores.

Avifaunal surveys in the central Peruvian Amazon clarify range limits and highlight links between avian and habitat diversity

The bird life of the central Peruvian Amazon is poorly known. To better characterize bird diversity and distributions, we conducted 4 expeditions to this lowland area, totaling 114 field days in 2015, 2018, and 2019. We focused on sampling under-surveyed habitats, terra firme in multiple interfluves, and sites around a recent river avulsion, and we detected 657 bird species across 22 study sites. Our results include the first extensive inventories of blackwater wetland systems, Guadua bamboo tracts, and riverine islands in central Peru; revised information on distributions with respect to river barriers, including documentation of contact and putative hybridization between parapatric forms; 28 first regional records; and new details on poorly known taxa. Together, these results provide a more complete picture of avian diversity in an area characterized by high species richness, high habitat diversity, and biogeographic interchange.

Avifaunal surveys in the central Peruvian Amazon clarify range limits and highlight links between avian and habitat diversity

The bird life of the central Peruvian Amazon is poorly known. To better characterize bird diversity and distributions, we conducted 4 expeditions to this lowland area, totaling 114 field days in 2015, 2018, and 2019. We focused on sampling under-surveyed habitats, terra firme in multiple interfluves, and sites around a recent river avulsion, and we detected 657 bird species across 22 study sites. Our results include the first extensive inventories of blackwater wetland systems, Guadua bamboo tracts, and riverine islands in central Peru; revised information on distributions with respect to river barriers, including documentation of contact and putative hybridization between parapatric forms; 28 first regional records; and new details on poorly known taxa. Together, these results provide a more complete picture of avian diversity in an area characterized by high species richness, high habitat diversity, and biogeographic interchange.

Species Composition, Relative Abundance, and Habitat Association of Avifauna in Zegie Peninsula Forest Patches and Associated Wetlands, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Introduction. Ethiopia is one of the most avifauna rich countries in Africa. Avifaunal surveys are required to inform conservation decisions and enhance land management for biodiversity. Avifaunal surveys from Ethiopia are lacking. This study examines species composition, relative abundance, and habitat association of avian fauna in Zegie Peninsula forest patches and associated wetlands from surveys carried out from August 2018 to March 2019, covering both the wet and dry seasons. Data Collection. Forest, shrub, lakeshore, and wetland habitats were identified as ecologically relevant habitats in the study area for data collection. Data were collected using point count and line transect methods, for 24 days in total for both seasons in the morning and afternoon. Results. A total of 96 species of birds were identified during the whole study period. Out of the total, 40 species were observed during the wet season, 13 during dry and 43 species in both seasons. There was significant variation of species distribution among habitats. During the wet season, the highest species diversity was recorded in the wetland habitat followed by forest habitat. During the dry season, avian diversity was the highest in the lakeshore followed by wetlands. The highest evenness was observed in the shrubland during both the wet and dry seasons. During the wet season, the highest species similarity was recorded between wetland and lakeshore habitats, and during the dry season, the highest species similarity was recorded between forest and shrub habitats. Based on encounter rate data, 64 (66.66%) of the avian species were uncommon. Conclusions. Compared to previous studies conducted in the study area, species diversity was lower. This might be due to various anthropogenic activities such as deforestation of trees for timber and cutting trees for firewood. Therefore, awareness creation should be given to the local community to reduce habitat destruction due to various human-induced factors.

A survey of Avifauna in aquatic habitat and their adjoining areas of Ramnagar, Uttarakhand, India

The present study deals with the observation of avifauna in the aquatic habitat and their adjoining areas of Ramnagar, Uttarakhand, India. The present study was carried out from January 2020 to December 2020. We have recorded a total of 145 avian species belonging to the 54 families during the study period. Among this, a total of 113 residents and 32 winter visitor species were identified. The percentage of resident and winter visitor avian species was 78.08% and 21.91%. During the study period, we also reported the four avian species viz., River Lapwing, River tern, Great Hornbill, and Alexandrine Parakeet are under the Near Threatened (NT) category and one species, namely Red-headed vulture is critically endangered according to IUCN Red data book. Thus, the findings of this study suggest that the selected study area has avifauna diversity of utmost importance which should be conserved by implementing specific strategies.

New voucher specimens and tissue samples from an avifaunal survey of the Middle Magdalena Valley of Bolívar, Colombia, bridge geographical and temporal gaps

Several of the first avifaunal surveys in Colombia were conducted in the lowland moist forests of the Middle Magdalena Valley, but for decades this region has been understudied. We present results of an avifaunal survey in a zone of Cantagallo, Bolívar, Colombia (Jun–Jul 2019), based on the collection of voucher specimens, associated tissue samples, and observational records. We report 165 species, 77 of which are represented with 266 voucher specimens. We found that the nearest documented records for 7 species are more than 100 km away. Moreover, our collection bridges more significant gaps in temporal sampling (mean = 71 years before our survey). Our field work resulted in the first tissue samples for 10 species in Colombia and 64 species from the department of Bolívar. The Middle Magdalena Valley's forests have almost vanished and the surveyed zone should be considered for protection.

An annotated bird checklist of community-managed lands in Kailash Sacred Landscape-India, Kumaon Himalaya

In the Indian Himalayan region, community-managed lands such as community-managed forests and agriculture lands play an important role in conserving native biodiversity. Our avifaunal surveys done between 2013 and 2016 recorded 205 species belonging to 52 families. Two species were first records from Pithoragarh district. Six species are classified as Threatened and five as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List. Six are Schedule-I species under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. In total, 63 migratory (local/altitudinal and long-range) and 81 Himalayan endemic species were observed. Overall, our observations reveal a niche providing both transient and perennial havens for resident and migrant avifauna in our study site’s landscape. Our findings suggest that despite human persistence in the landscape, diversity within avifaunal guilds is rich in the community-managed lands. We recommend further research to focus on understanding the factors governing the bird distribution and co-occurrence in the landscape. 

The Survey of Avifauna in the natural habitat and their adjoining areas of Harbhajwala, Dehradun, India

The present study deals with the observation of avifauna in the Natural habitat and their adjoining areas of Harbhajwala in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The study was carried out between December 2018 to October 2020. We observed 114 bird species, belonging to 50 families during the study period. Out of these 97 residents and 19 winters, migratory species were identified. The percentage of resident and winter visitor avian species was found to be 84% and 16%. Then the maximum number of species recorded from the family Muscicapidae. During the observation, we observed the Egyptian Vulture and Alexandrine Parakeet as Endangered and near-threatened species respectively according to IUCN. The presence of threatened species indicates the more conservation efforts are needed in the study area.

Avifaunal Diversity of Institute of Forestry Complex, Hetauda Metropolis, Nepal

Avifaunal diversity is the measure of species diversity via species richness and evenness. To this aim, avifaunal survey was conducted in the Institute of Forestry Complex, Hetauda from November 2017 to June 2018. Using line transect and point count methods, 132 species of birds were recorded, representing 15 orders and 44 families. Three species of these birds are in IUCN Red List while 90, 27 and 15 species are residential, visitor and migrant respectively. Higher Shannon diversity index (4.47) and Margalef index (18.78) indicate marked diversity and richness of bird species. A high value calculated for the Simpson index (0.98) represents higher evenness within the species individuals. Although, Pielou’s evenness index (0.92) shows uniformity in the species distribution, Shannon index seems to be influenced by diversity index, species richness and evenness values. The avifaunal diversity in the study area shows the importance of the Institute of Forestry Complex as a suitable bird habitat.