A SURVEY ON BIRDS OF THE YAYU FOREST IN SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

A survey of birds in the Yayu forest, southwest Ethiopia, was conducted between August and December 2009. Timed Species Count (TSC) method was used. The survey was conducted in seven selected sampling blocks, each with an area of 0.5 km². The blocks were representative of vegetation types (afromontane forest, transitional rain forest and riverine forest) and conservation zones (core, buffer and transition). A total of 112 bird species were recorded. Species composition of birds showed significantly higher number during the wet season than the dry season. The number of bird species records of the seven blocks also showed significant difference. The study reinforces the designation of the Yayu forest as a biodiversity hotspot and it is recommended that ongoing conservation and biodiversity documentation efforts should continue.