Diversity and Population of Avifauna of Two Urban Sites in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

A comparative study on diversity and population status of avifauna in Uttara urban area of Dhaka city with their breeding records was done in 12-months period from August 2004 to July 2005. A total of 27 species of birds were recorded from two urban sites (Sectors 7 and 9). Species diversity was significantly more in Sector 7 than that recorded in Sector 9. Regarding the relative abundance, the highest number of species of birds (44%) was very common in Sector 7. In contrast, the number of rare species (33.33%) was significantly high in Sector 9. Corvus splendens, C. macrorynchus, Passer domesticus and Sturnus contra were most dominant species in both study sites. On the taxonomic view point of avifauna, 14 (51.85%) species were passerines and 13 (48.15%) were non passerines. Six species of breeding birds were recorded, and all of them constructed nests in Sector 7 and only 2 species constructed nests in Sector 9. These data suggest that Sector 7 is more suitable habitat than the other. Preferences for nesting sites were significantly higher on the indigenous trees in both study sites, meaning that vegetation is important factor affecting the abundance of urban avifauna.

Key words: Avifauna, diversity, population ecology, urban area, conservation.

DOI: 10.3126/eco.v16i0.3464

ECOPRINT 16: 1-7, 2009