On the high bird diversity in the non-protected regions of Trashiyangtse District in Bhutan

Abstract

Birds are ecological indicators of ecosystem health. Baseline information on bird diversity are, therefore, important for ecological monitoring. Such information is, however, sorely lacking for many areas outside the protected areas. Here, we explore the avian diversity and present a comprehensive checklist for the non-protected regions of Trashiyangtse District in northeastern Bhutan. We also categorise the bird species by their residency pattern, feeding guilds, abundance, and IUCN Red List status. We conducted an avifauna exploration for a period of four years from 2017 to 2020, mostly through opportunistic encounters coinciding with regular field visits. We recorded a total of 273 bird species belonging to 173 genera, 69 families and 19 orders. Passeriformes was the most dominant order with 41 families and 174 species and Muscicapidae was the most dominant family with 12 genera and 32 species. Most birds were altitudinal migrants (39%), insectivorous (45%), and occasional (44%) in terms of residency pattern, feeding guild, and abundance, respectively. Only one species (Ardea insignis) was listed as Critically Endangered and one (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) as Endangered. Our study identified the non-protected regions of Trashiyangtse District as an important bird diversity area in Bhutan.

Climate‐driven decline in the habitat of the endemic spiny babbler (Turdoides nipalensis)

“…Haphazard development and a rapid increase in anthropogenic infrastructure in non‐PA regions could escalate the degradation of the spiny babbler's suitable habitat. Even though PAs contribute immensely to the conservation of threatened and endemic species (Brown et al, 2019; Cazalis et al, 2020; Virkkala et al, 1994), the essence of conserving suitable habitats within non‐PAs for their sustainable conservation cannot be overlooked (Avigliano et al, 2019; León‐Ortega et al, 2017; Norbu et al, 2021; Santos et al, 2008). In this regard, suitable habitat outside of PA should also be accorded equitable conservation priority.…”

A checklist of avifauna of Mangalore University, Karnataka, India

“…To compile the list of birds we used secondary data cited in eBird data (accessed 20 February 2021). The feeding guild data for each species was collected from the existing literature (Ali & Ripley 1987;Vinayak & Mali 2018;Harisha et al 2021;Norbu et al 2021).…”

Species Distribution Modelling of Two Sympatric Hornbills: The Great Hornbill and Rufous-Necked Hornbill in Bhutan

“…Additionally, more than 95% of Bhutan remains vegetated, of which approximately 70% constitutes natural forest cover [20]. e bird species of the country stands at 748 species of which 31 are globally threatened and 18 are part of the 37 endemic bird species which makes stronghold of bird diversity [21]. e protected areas system of Bhutan comprises ve national parks, four wildlife sanctuaries, and one strict nature reserve [22].…”