Abstract

Diversity and Abundance of Avian Fauna in Cultivated and Riverine Habitats of Bahawalnagar, Pakistan

Authors: Javed Iqbal, Sajid Hussain, Huma Azam, Nimra, Shanza Karamat, Hafiz Toheed and Fareeha Nawaz

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.71081/cvj/2025.038

Abstract
The avian fauna of Punjab, Pakistan's District Bahawalnagar was examined between October 2022 and May 2023. District Bahawalnagar, which lies close to the Sutlej River, provides an excellent habitat for a variety of bird species. This study is the first survey of bird species carried out in Bahawalnagar. The landscapes of Bahawalnagar were separated into two groups: the riverine area and the agricultural region. Potential bird habitats were found in both the riverine and cultivated sectors. The birds were viewed using a binocular telescope with the naked eye. For odd time periods, the survey was carried out using the point count method from a fixed location inside a specified 50-meter radius. 10515 individual birds of 74 species, spanning 32 families of 12 orders, were identified during the current study. Additionally, 25 plant species were found in the study region. Winter observations included 49 bird species, spring observations included 70, and summer observations included 60. Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis), House Crow (Corvus splendens) and House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) were the most prevalent species. According to statistical analysis, the spring season's evenness and Shannon-Wiener values were 0.6477 and 1.195, respectively. Species diversity was much higher in the spring than in other seasons. The order Passeriformes was the most prevalent in all food kinds and species diversity. These results indicate that agricultural and riverine habitats support diverse avian fauna. These approaches help support habitat diversity and food availability.

Keywords: Avian fauna, Bahawalnagar, Cultivated land, Diversity, River