Composition and Diversity of Birds: A Comparative Study between Two Wetlands

Abstract

Wetlands play a vital role in bird conservation and support diverse biological diversity. They are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth. For years, bird community evaluation has been used in biodiversity conservation, monitoring or identifying areas for conservation actions. Here, we examined and compared bird species composition, diversity and richness in Warwade and Kafin Gana Wetlands. Point count method was employed during the study. Overall, 56 species belonging to 32 families were recorded. The two Wetlands are similar in their species composition by 45%. Kafin Gana had higher species diversity (H` = 3.1) than Warwade (H` = 2.9), but the difference was not significant (t = 1.68, df = 402, p>0.0931). Bird species richness in Kafin Gana and Warwade were 44 and 31 species respectively. Relative abundance of birds ranges from 0.24 to 10.78. Seven feeding guilds were categorized in both Wetlands with most species (21) observed to be insectivores, while frugivores, nectivores and piscivores had least representation with one species each. The study shows that the Wetlands (especially Kafin Gana) are rich in bird diversity, including migratory birds. There is need for proper use of the Wetlands resources, especially fishing in order to minimize any disturbances that could negatively affect bird activities.

Keywords: Foraging Guild, Relative Abundance, Species Richness, Kafin Gana, Warwade