International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Urban Bird Species Diversity and Abundance in case of Wolkite Town, Southwestern Ethiopia
Abstract
Urban environments are a place where bird species are living due to the availability of considerable food and roosting sites, particularly in gardens and parks. However, bird species diversity and distribution is poorly known in urban areas. In order to fill the gaps, this study aimed to quantify bird species diversity and abundance for conservation priority of Wolkite town. The study area was stratified into different blocks namely abattoir, dump site, sacred site and home-garden, based on land characteristics and bird attracting features. Point transects were laid on stratified blocks randomly with the aid of GPS. Bird data have been collected via direct observation with help of a binocular. The data were analyzed through one-way ANOVA and Paired Sample t-test. The study recorded a total 30 bird species, of which 18 species are resident and 12 are seasonal migrants. Most of the identified birds (58.67%) are locally frequent and about 6.6% are rare species. In home-garden block, the highest species diversity was recorded in both wet and dry seasons. The bird species are distributed evenly in home-garden (E=0.976) and sacred site(E=0.944) during wet and dry seasons. Bird species abundance had a significant difference among the identified blocks (F=5.47, df=3, P<0.05. The result showed that Wolkite town harbors many rare, near endemic, critically endangered and seasonal migrant bird species. Hence, it is an important area of endemism and conservation priority and qualifies the criteria to be recognized as an important bird area of Ethiopia. In conclusions, similar small towns could have a diversified bird species and need to be considered as a conservation priority areas.
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