Seasonal variation in encounter rate of avian community at Tranquebar area, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Present study was carried out from January 2016 to December 2016 variation in encounter rate of avian community in different habitat and season. Totally 470 sightings of bird species was obtained both morning and evening counts from 360 one kilometer transect walks along the 15 transects. Average of encounter rate was 0.40±0.05 (5) birds/km walks. The overall encounter rate was ranged in different habitat from 0.10 to 0.84 and season 0.12 to 0.38 birds/walks. The encounter rate was statistically significant between seasons (Kruskal – Wallis test H=12.08, df=4, P=0.003). All habitat and different season 55 species were recorded and majority of bird species found 58% in agriculture and river bund remaining 42% in other habitats.