Diversity and Conservation Status of Birds in Betana Wetland Area Belbari, Morang, Nepal

Abstract

This study was carried out to understand the Seasonal Diversity and conservation status of birds in Betana wetland and its associated area. In order to accomplish these objectives, entire habitats were categorized into three types as forest, corridor and settlement areas. Bird surveys were conducted in two different seasons of a single year from January to July of 2014. For the survey, three line transects were set in three different habitat of covering a length of 7.5 km. Transect were taken as reference line for the plot setup. The plot was set in each 300m intervals on opposite sides of transect. The area of each Plot was of 50 m radius and 100m inside from the main reference line. Bird survey was done using direct count and call count method using a camera, binocular, reference book and a sound recorder. Species richness of the birds was calculated by using SPSS- software. Relation between species richness, habitat types and seasons were calculated using Kuskal- Wallis rank sum test. Altogether 55 bird species belonging to 10 orders and 24 families were observed in the study area. Among them 44 bird species were resident, 5 species winter migrants and 6 species summer migrants. The highest number of species (18) was represented by the order Passeriformes while the lowest number of species was represented by the order Psittaciformes and Galliformes. A significant difference in species richness of birds between different habitats (P-value = 0.016, df =2, χ2=8). The species richness was found higher in corridor followed by forest and cultivated area. Availability of food and disturbances, elevation, and edge effect were the important factor for occurrence and distribution of birds in the study area. Human creating activities such as Habitat disturbances (picnic and boating), forest fire, poaching and grazing were the major threats to the avian community.