The Bird Species Of Pandam Wildlife Park And The Surrounding Farmlands

Abstract

This study investigated the bird species abundance and diversity of the Pandam wildlife park and the surrounding farmlands. The effect of time of day as well as vegetation variables on bird species diversity in the park and surrounding farmlands was also conducted. Ten transects in each study site were surveyed twice during the dry season and vegetation variables (trees, fingers, finger-rings two- hand, grazing, farming, canopy cover, ground cover, litter cover, diameter breast height) measured. Results showed that there was a significant difference in bird species diversity between the park and the surrounding farmlands (Wicoxon test, z = -1.961, p=0.050). That time of day had a significant effect on the number of birds seen, with the number reducing as time approaches midday (Kruskal-Wallis 1-way ANOVA, Chi square=59.651,df=7, p<0.001). Trees, canopy, ground cover and litter cover were positively correlated to, and had a significant effect on bird species diversity in the park (trees: F_1,10=9.942, P=0.014; litter cover: F_1,10=15.521, P=0.004; ground cover: F_1,10=16.868, P=0.003 and canopy: F_1,10=15.487, P=0.004), while in the farmland there was no positive correlation of bird species diversity with any of the vegetation variable, trees (r=0.210, N=10, p=0.560); finger (r=0.038, N=10, p=0.917); ring (r=0.48, N=10 p=0.229); two hand (r=0.058, N=10, p=0.874); grazing (r=-0.141, N=10, p=0.697); farming (r=-0.243, N=10, p=0.500); log (r=-0.183, N=10, p=0.614); shrubs (r=-0.352, N=10, p=0.319); stumps (r=0.195, N=10, p=0.590). Bird diversity index of 3.11 (park) and 3.05 (farmland) is not good enough for an IBA, because the park has been greatly degraded and there was no significant difference in bird diversity index between the park and the surrounding farmlands.