Assessment Of Avifaunal Diversity Of Restored Riverine Ecosystem Of Shuklapur Area, Dehradun, India

Abstract

The survey was conducted from February to June of 2021. In total, 76 bird species from 16 orders and 35 families were documented in this study in riverine and forest habitat. In Shuklapur Area, order Passeriformes dominated, with 18 families accounting for 53% of all families documented. The majority of the bird species recorded belonged to the Columbidae, Sturnidae, and Cisticolidae families. Out of the total species recorded two belonged to Near Threatened (NT) catergory IUCN which are Grey-headed Parakeet (Centropus hastate) and Alexandrine Parakeet (Palaeornis eupatria) and two species from Vulnerable (VN) catergory of IUCN which are Great hornbill (Buceros bicornis) and Indian Spotted Eagle (Clanga hastate) were also sighted. 49% of the total avian species recorded were found in forest habitat, 13% in riverine habitat and 38% avian species shares both habitats. Carnivorous feeding habitat was most dominant with 38 avian species which is 50% of the total species found belong to this feeding habit while nectivorous bird species are least in number as only one avian species belongs to this feeding habit. In Shuklapur Area presence of six species of migratory birds were also recorded. Bird assemblage in both type of habitats shows a similar type of pattern. Diversity, richness, evenness, dominance of avian diversity in different seasons and different months were also analyzed. The current research provides a baseline study with respect to floral and faunal diversity conservation in this area.