Diversity and Richness of Avian Species in Khata and Karnali Corridor, Nepal

Abstract

Nepal is rich in avian diversity and records more than 886 bird species with 23 orders and 97 families. The study was carried out to assess the species diversity of birds, types of habitats used and presence of birds in different habitats in the summer season in Khata and Karnali corridor forest of Bardia and Kailali districts respectively. This study aims to update avian diversity of Khata and Karnali corridor of Bardia National Park, Nepal, which is an important birds and biodiversity area of Nepal. Riverine Sissoo-Khair Forest, moist mixed forest and riverine grassland are prominent habitats in the study area. Index of diversity and species evenness indicate the high species diversity of birds in Khata corridor forest rather than Karnali corridor. By mobilizing volunteers, we monitored 79 transects (24 in Khata and 55 in Karnali) each with one km long in summer seasons of 2022. A total of 1,455 individuals of birds belonging to 153 species were recorded. 153 species of birds belonging to 12 orders and 40 families from the Khata and Karnali Corridor are recorded; out of which 137 species were recorded in Khata and 86 species in Karnali with 1,048 and 407 individuals respectively. Species richness and diversity of all birds was high in Khata corriodr rather than Karnali and showed significant variation along protected forest in Khata than unmanged Karnali. The globally threatened bird, Great Slaty Woodpecker (Mulleripicus pulverulentus) and White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) were recorded in Karnali and Khata corridors respectively. Similarly, one Nepal protected bird; Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) was recorded in Khata corridor. Altogether 14 recorded bird species are included in CITES Appendices in which Oriental Pied-Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) is recorded in Appendix I and rest are in Appendix II.