AVIFAUNA IN AN URBAN LANDSCAPE OF A LOWER GANGES DISTRICT OF BANGLADESH: COMMUNITY STRUCTURE, SEASONALITY, HABITAT PREFERENCE AND CONSERVATION ISSUES

Abstract

A yearlong scientific study was conducted using direct field observation
technique from November 2020 to October 2021 to investigate community
structure, habitat preference, and conservation concerns of birds in the urban
setting of Faridpur Sadar Upazila. A total of 168 species under 18 orders and 56
families were recorded and 6,551 individual of birds were counted. The order
Passeriformes had the highest species richness (71 species, 42.26%) and
abundance (n=3,831, 58.48%). Among the bird species, 48 species (29.58%) were
migratory and the rest were resident. During the winter season, the highest
number of bird species (156 species, 92.85%) and individuals (n= 2,960, 45.18%)
were observed. The overall comparison of species richness and abundance for
three seasons were significant. Pair-wise one-way ANOVA for species richness
and abundance of birds shows significant differences between winter-rainy and
summer-winter seasons.The diversity index showed the highest value in winter
season. Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) test showed a significant difference in
birds communities among three-season. Among the 10 types of microhabitats
surveyed, trees were the most used by the bird species (103 species, 61.31%) The
highest 69 species (41.07%) were very common according to the observation
status. The most abundant bird was Pycnonotus cafer with the highest relative
abundance (5.15%). Bird hunting, trade, and habitat loss were the major threats
for the survival of bird community in this area. Therefore, immediate initiatives
are needed to implement for the conservation of bird and their habitats.