Species diversity of dry season avian fauna in Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

The avian fauna in Nigeria and the rest of West Africa is fairly rich, especially during the rainy season when most of the birds are breeding. However, the frequency of species encounter in the field changes as the dry season progresses. The present study examined the diversity of birds during the three dry months following the rains, i.e., November 2016- January 2017, using point count protocol in four partially protected sites, namely, Bayero University Old Campus, Bayero University Kano New Campus, Audu Bako Zoological Garden and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. Checklist records show that 42 individual species belonged to 23 families. Most of these species were common to three of the four study sites, and a few, such as Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides, were encountered only at Kano Zoo, a small patch of wetland that contrasts with the other drier sites. The Shannon Diversity Index was highest at the Zoological garden site, 2.76. The Piapiac, Ptilostomis afer was peculiar to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. Regression analysis showed no influence of months on the frequency of birds seen. However, the Zoological garden in particular, had significant effect on frequencies of birds (P<0.05).

Keywords: Avian, Birds, Diversity, Kano, Nigeria