Distribution and Habitat Use of Avian Fauna of Rawalakot City and its Surroundings, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Saba Khalid*, Muhammad Saddique Awan, Riaz Aziz Minhas, Nasra Ashraf, Khawaja Basharat Ahmed, Nuzhat Shafi and Sajid Abassi

Department of Zoology, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Distribution and habitat use of avian fauna of Rawalakot city and its surrounding was studied from March 2006 to February 2007. The study area is situated in the center of district Poonch. For the convenience of data collection the study area was divided into six study sites; systematic surveys were conducted at each site. Direct sighting and indirect evidences were collected from all these sites. Seventy eight bird species were recorded that belonged to 34 families and 11 orders. Passeriformes was the dominant specie. The habitat destruction due to deforestation, agricultural activities, infrastructure and land sliding and disturbances by the increasing human population were major threats to the avian fauna of Rawalakot.

Article Information

Received 13 March 2015

Revised 23 June 2016

Accepted 03 June 2017

Available online 16 November 2017

Authors’ Contributions

MSA designed the study. SK did field work and RAM and KBA analysed the data. SK, NA, NS and SA wrote the manuscript.

Key words

Avian fauna, Distribution, Habitat use, Habitat preference.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/2017.49.6.sc4

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

0030-9923/2017/0006-2331 $ 9.00/0

Azad Jammu and Kashmir is located at the junction of Palaearctic and Oriental region having rich mixed fauna and avian diversity of two geographical regions (Roberts, 1991) as well as the migratory birds of Central and Northern Europe who take the route of Afghanistan, Karakorum range, across river Indus in Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and finally towards India (Ali and Ripley, 1987) to avoid adverse climatic conditions or in search of food but the local people are unaware of the avian role in ecosystems, leads to habitat destruction and hunting of bird species in the area. It is therefore required to document the avian diversity and address the factors that lead to habitat destruction and population decline of bird species in the area. In order to address these issues, the distribution, population status, and habitat preference of avian fauna in Rawalakot city was studied.

Materials and methods

The study was conducted at Rawalakot (32° 45’ N to 35° 07’ N and 73° 24’ E to 74° 56’ E), district Poonch, AJ&K (Anonymous, 2002). Topographically Rawalakot is mountainous area at an altitude of 5374 feet, having subtropical climate with pleasant summer and cold winter. The area receives precipitation in the form of rainfall and snow. Mild snowfall occurs almost in all areas of Rawalakot. The area possesses a rich flora, having dominant vegetation species of Olea ferruginea, Ailanthus, Rosa indica and Euphorbia helioscopia. Such diverse habitat provides abode for a variety of bird species.

Bird population surveys (45) were conducted from March 2006 to February 2007. Study area was divided randomly into six localities having the same habitat to cover the maximum area for sampling. During the surveys, direct and indirect methods were used to gather information about the presence of avian fauna. Surveys were usually scheduled in the morning and evening time. Most of the day hours were used to gather indirect evidences. The bird fauna was observed by using Binocular (12X 50X) and identified with the help of available keys (Ali and Ripley, 1983; Roberts, 1991). GPS readings were taken in terms of coordinates and elevation at the points where any evidence was found. Habitat analysis was carried out to assess the flora by using quadrate method (Schemnitz, 1980). Dominance of plant species was calculated on the basis of important value index.

Results and discussion

Seventy eight bird species belonging to 34 families were identified (Table I) in forty five surveys. Among these species common myna, common swift, black bulbul, house crow, jungle crow were common. While, kalij pheasant, tree pipit, wagtail, kingfisher, spotted owlet, spotted dove and Indian roller were scarce in numbers. Collared dove was frequently observed during survey. Himalayan tree creeper and red vented bulbul were residential birds of Rawalakot and were observed during all seasons. Observed birds were unevenly distributed in each locality. Mostly, avain abundance was observed in uninhabited areas. The percentage of relative abundance of all the species shows that Passeriformes (83.73%) is the dominant order in the study area followed by Columbiformes (3.40%), Cuculiformes (2.1%), Apodiformes (1.79%), Psittaciformes (1.7%), Coraciiformes (1.32%), Piciformes (0.76%), Upupiformes (0.31%), Ciconiiformes (0.24%) Strigiformes (0.12%) and Galliformes (0.10%). Among plant species Olea ferruginea was dominant in study area followed by Ailanthus altissima, Cannabis sativa, Dalbergia sissoo and Acacia nilotica (Supplementary Fig. 1). Availability of abundant food resources and diverse habitat of Rawalakot city like open area, grass land,

Table I.- Bird species recorded in Rawalakot city and its surroundings.

S No.	Scientific name	Common name		Category residential status	IUCN red list (CR, EN, VU, NT)*	Protection status in Pakistan	Localstatus (R, C, F)*
Order Galliformes
Family Phasianidae
1	Lophuraleucomelanos	Kalij pheasant		Resident	LC		R
Oredr Piciformes
Family Picidae
2	Dendrocoposhimalayensis	Himalayan woodpecker		Resident	LC		C
Order Upupiformes
Family Upupidae
3	Upupaepops	Common hoopoe	Resident		LC		C
Order Coraciiformes
Family Coraciidae
4	Coraciasbenghalensis	Indian roller		Resident	LC		R
Family Alcedinidae
5	Alcedoatthis	Common king fisher		Resident	LC		R
6	Halcyon smyrnensis	White breasted Kingfisher		Resident	LC		R
Family Cerylidae
7	Cerylerudis	Pied kingfisher		Resident	LC		R
Order Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae
8	Cuculusvarius	Common Hawk cuckoo		Resident	LC		R
9	Clamatorjacobinus	Pied cuckoo		Resident	LC		R
10	Eudynamysscolopaceus	Asian Koel		Resident	LC		C
Order Psittaciformes
Family Psittaculidae
11	Psittaculaeupatria	Alexandrine parakeet		Resident	LC		C
12	Psittaculakrameri	Rose ringed parakeet		Resident	LC		C
Order Apodiformes
Family Apodidae
13	Apusapus	Common swift		Resident	LC		C
14	Apusaffinis	House swift		Resident	LC		C
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae
15	Bubo bubo	Eurasion eagle owl		Resident	LC		C
16	Athenebrama	Spotted owlet		Resident	LC		C
Order Columbiformes
Family Columbidae
17	Columba livia	Rock pigeon		Resident	LC		C
18	Columba leuconota	Snow pigeon		Resident	LC		C
19	Columba palumbus	Common wood pigeon		Resident	LC		C
20	Streptopeliadecaocto	Collard dove		Resident	LC		C
21	Streptopeliaorientalis	Oriental turtle dove		Resident	LC		C
22	Streptopeliachinensis	Spotted dove		Resident	LC		C

S No.		Scientific name	Common name		Category residential status	IUCN red list (CR, EN, VU, NT)*	Prote ction status in Paki stan	Local status (R, C, F)*
Order Falconiformes
Family Falconidae
23		Falco tinnunculus	Common kestrel	Resident		LC		R
Order Passeriformes
Family Laniidae
24		Laniusschach	Rufous-tailed shrike	Resident		LC		C
25		Laniusexcubitor	Great grey shrike	Resident		LC		C
26		Laniusvittatus	Bay backed shrike	Resident		LC		C
Family Corvidae
27		Urocissaflavirostris	Yellow billed blue magpie	Resident		LC		C
28		Dendrocittavagabunda	Rufoustreepie	Resident		LC		C
29		Corvussplendens	House crow	Resident		LC		C
30		Corvusmacrorhynchos	Jungle crow	Resident		LC		C
Family Dicruridae
31		Dicrurusmacrocercus	Black drango	Resident		LC		C
Family Rhipiduridae
32	Rhipiduraalbicollis		White throated fantail	Resident		LC		C
Family Strunidea
33		Acridotherestristis	Common myna	Resident		LC		C
34		Acridotheresginginianus	Bank myna	Resident		LC		C
Family Passeridae
35		Passer domesticus	House sparrow	Resident		LC		C
36		Passer hispaniolensis	Spanish sparrow	Resident		LC		C
37		Passer rutilans	Russet sparrow	Resident		LC		C
Family Estrildidae
38		Amandavaamandava	Red avadavat	Resident		LC		C
39		Lonchurapunctulata	Spotted munia	Resident		LC		C
Family Fringillidae
40		Carduelisspinoides	Himalayan green finch	Resident		LC		C
41		Carduelisflavirostris	Twite	Resident		LC		C
42		Carpodacuserythrinus	Common rose finch	Resident		LC		C
Family Emberizidae
43		Emberizaleucocephalos	Pine bunting	Resident		LC		C
44		Emberizastewarti	White-capped bunting	Resident		LC		C
45		Emberizacia	Rock bunting	Resident		LC		C
46		Emberizapusilla	Little bunting	Resident		LC		C
Family Hirundinidae
47		Hirundorustica	Common swallow	Resident		LC		C
48		Hirundodaurica	Red ramped swallow	Resident		LC		C
Family Motacillidae
49		Motacilla alba	White wagtail	Resident		LC		C
50		Motacillamaderaspatensis	Large pied wagtail	Resident		LC		C
51		Motocillacitreola	Yellow headed-wagtail	Resident		LC		C
52		Motacillaflava	Yellow wagtail	Resident		LC		C
53		Anthustrivialis	Tree pipit	Resident		LC		C
Family Campephagidae
54		Pericrocotusflammeus	Scarlet minivet	Resident		LC		C
55		Pycnonotusleucogenys	Himalayan bulbul	Resident		LC		C
56		Pycnonotuscafer	Red vented bulbul	Resident		LC		C
57		Hypsipetesleucocephalus	Black bulbul	Resident		LC		C
Family Irenidae
58		Chloropsisaurifrons	Golden fronted leaf bird	Resident		LC		C
Family Turdidae
59		Enicurusleschenaulti	Leschenaults forktail	Resident		VU		C

S No.	Scientific name	Common name	Category residential status	IUCN red list (CR, EN, VU, NT)*	Protection status in Pakistan	Locals tatus (R, C, F)*
60	Enicurusscouleri	Little forktail	Resident	LC		C
61	Saxicolatorquata	Common stone chat	Resident	LC		C
62	Saxicolaferrea	Dark grey bush chat	Resident	LC		C
63	Saxicolacaprata	Pied bush chat	Resident	LC		C
Family Sittidae
64	Sittacastanea	Chestnut-bellied Nutchatch	Resident	LC		C
Family Paridae
65	Parus major	Great Tit	Resident	LC		C
Family Certhiidae
66	Certhiahimalayana	Himalayan tree creeper	Resident	LC		C
Family Zosteropidea
67	Zosteropspalpebrosus	Oriental white-eye	Resident	LC		C
Family Oriolidae
68	Oriolusoriolus	Golden Oriole	Resident	LC		C
Family Phylloscopidae
69	Phylloscopusaffinis	Tickell's leaf warbler	Resident	LC		C
70	Phylloscopusxanthoschistos	Grey hooded warbler	Resident	LC		C
Family Cisticolidae
71	Priniacrinigera	striated prinia	Resident	LC		C
Family Muscicapidae
72	Cyornistickelliae	Salty-blue flycatcher	Resident	LC		C
73	Saxicolaleucurus	Stone chat	Resident	LC		C
74	Saxicoloidesfulicatus	Indian robin	Resident	LC		C
75	Ficedulasuperciliaris	Ultramarine flycatcher	Resident	LC		C
76	Eumyiasthalassinus	Verditer fly catcher	Resident	LC		C
77	Muscicapasibirica	Sooty fly catcher	Resident	LC		C
Family Monarchidae
78	Terpsiphone paradise	Indian paradise flycatcher	Resident	LC		C

LC, least concern; VU, vulnerable; R, rare; C, common.

forest and cultivated (maize and wheat) area prop up species richness (Ashkenazi and Dimentman, 1998). Similarly, integration of species habitat contributes to a better understanding of species resource requirements for suitable management program on year-round basis (Hoffman et al., 1996).

Rawalakot provide large mosaic habitats for avian fauna and provides nesting, breeding, foraging, and roosting sites. Any disturbance (grass cutting, wood collection and insecticidal spray) in and around the roost sites especially, during the breeding seasons should be restricted.

Supplementary material

There is supplementary material associated with this article. Access the material online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/2017.49.6.sc4

Statement of conflict of interest

Authors have declared no conflict of interest.

References

Ali, S. and Ripley, S.D., 1987. Birds of India and Pakistan, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, pp. 223-669.

Ali, S. and Ripley, S.D., 1983. Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan. Oxford University Press, Delhi.

Anonymous, 2002. Azad Kashmir at a glance. Statistics section, Planning and Development, Azad Govt. of State of Jammu and Kashmir.

Ashkenazi, S. and Dimentman, C., 1998. Wetlands Ecol. Manage., 6: 169-187. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008488607329

Hoffman, L., Hafner, H. and Salathe, T., 1996. Colonial Water Birds, 19: 12-30. https://doi.org/10.2307/1521942

Mckinney, M.L., 2002. Bioscience, 52: 883-890. https://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2002)052[0883:UBAC]2.0.CO;2

Roberts, T.J., 1991. The birds of Pakistan. Non Passeriformes. Oxford University Press, Karachi, pp. 558.

Schmnitz, S.D., 1980. Wildlife management techniques manual, 4th edition, revised. The Wildlife Society Inc., Washington, pp. 113-126.

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