Diversity and relative Abundance of birds in tiro botor becho forest, jimma zone, Southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Birds are considered effective indicators of biodiversity and ecosystem productivity due to their well-documented characteristics compared to other animals. Despite their widespread distribution, habitat destruction, fragmentation, and habitat loss have significantly impacted their survival and distribution. Therefore, this study was aimed to prepare a baseline data on avifaunal diversity with their relative abundance in the Tiro Botor Becho Forest, Jimma Zone, south western Ethiopia, from January to August 2024, including both the wet and dry seasons. A stratified random sampling design across the four dominant habitat types; forest, grassland, woodland and shrub land was used. Point transect techniques was applied in forest and woodland habitats and line transects technique was used in the grassland and shrub land habitat to record bird species composition and their abundance. Diversity indices of birds in four study sites were calculated using the Shannon Wiener diversity index. A total of 99 bird species, representing 12 orders and 42 families, were recorded over both dry and wet seasons. The order Passeriformes dominated, accounting for 60.6% of the species, with the family Ploceidae being the most abundant. The highest number of species was recorded from the forest (63 and 25 species) during dry and wet season respectively; and the least number was recorded from the shrub land habitat (36 and 15 species) during dry and wet seasons, respectively. Bird species diversity was highest in forest (H'=3.98 and H'=3.10) during dry and wet season respectively. In contrast, the lowest species diversity was recorded in the shrub land (H’=3.49 and H’= 2.44) during dry and wet season, respectively. Seasonal variation was evident, with a significant decline in bird species abundance during the wet season, especially in grassland, woodland, and shrubland habitats. The highest relative abundance in the dry season was recorded for Swainson’s Sparrow (2.59%) while the Double-toothed Barbet (6.55%) dominated in the dry season. Species diversity and evenness indices were highest in the forest habitat, indicating a balanced and resource-rich environment. The findings highlight the critical role of habitat structure and seasonal changes in shaping bird communities, highlighting the need for effective conservation strategies to protect forest habitats and support bird diversity in southwestern Ethiopia.