Diversity and Relative Abundance of Bird Species in Kersa and Birbirsa Wetlands Kersa District South West, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted on diversity and relative abundance of bird species in Birbisa and Kersa wetlands Kersa District south west, Ethiopia with the objective to assess the diversity and relative abundance of wetland birds in Birbirsa and Kersa wetland habitat. Birbirsa and Kersa wetlands were divided in to eight blocks, consequently, sixteen line transects that ranges 1km-1.8km long at 200m and 500m distance between were established on each blocks. Transect line method was used to study diversity and relative abundance of birds in study area. Also it often collect data from large open areas and is more efficient to record more birds per unit time. A total of 2352 individual birds from 101 species belonging to 40 families and 12 Orders were recorded. Among 101 bird species recorded 49 were wetland specialist and 52 wetland generalist birds. Maximum number of wetland specialist wetland bird species in both wet and dry season from Birbirsa wetlands (36) and also during dry season from Birbirsa wetlands (22),minimum numbers of wetland specialist water bird species in both wet and dry season were recorded from Kersa wetlands (30) and (20). During wet season the more diversity index( H’: 2.87) wetland specialist water bird diversity recorded from Birbirsa wetland and less (H’: 2.55) from Kersa wetlands , although in dry season the higher ( H’: 3.62 ) were recorded at Birbirsa wetlands and fewer diversity index ( H’: 3.40) in Kersa wetland. Significantly difference in wetland specialist water birds diversity between wet and dry seasons were recorded at Birbirsa and Kersa wetlands( pair independent T-test t=2.375, n=131 and t=1.546 n=120 where P<0.05). Maximum numbers of wetland generalist bird species were recorded from Birbirsa wetlands (40) and minimum numbers was from Kersa wetlands (36) Higher (H’:3.35) wetland generalist bird species diversity during wet season was recorded from Birbirsa wetlands and fewer( H’:3.136) from Kersa .During dry season the higher (H’: 3.2) was recorded from Birbirsa and lower ( H’: 2.94) from Kersa wetland. This study revealed that presence of different types of land use and socio-economic activities in relation to two wetlands such as: Agriculture, Human Settlements, brick making, grazing, production and large area coverage eucalyptus plantation pose major threats to these wetlands. Conserving the two wetland habitats and biodiversity a management plan should be prepared emphasizing an avenue for the sustainable utilization of resources of the wetland without jeopardizing its continued ecological values and functions.