Avian Diversity in Dilifekar Block, Arsi Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

Abstract

This research was conducted at Dilfekar Block, Arsi Mountains National Park from August 2014-May 2015 during both wet and dry seasons with the aim to study diversity and taxonomy of bird species found in the block. Seven Transect lines of all with length 100m and width 15m were positioned in different representative microhabitat sites of the block. Data collection was carried out from the early morning to late morning and afternoon to late afternoon throughout the study periods. In this study, a total of 99 avian species under 36 families were identified from the Block. The largest and the least number of species of birds were recorded in transect 2 (42.9%) and transect 3 (7.2%) respectively. The variation in species abundance of the transects was statistically significant (χ 2 = 80.44, df=6, p<0.05). The Shannon diversity index (H') ranges from 1.9-3.6 of seven transects considered in the study area. Accordingly, the minimum index value was from transect 1 (1.9) and the maximum was from transect 2 (3.6). However, based on the Shannon diversity index value, the species of avian diversity among the transects was not statistically significant (χ 2 = 0.98, df=6, p>0.05). Evenness index (E) for species of birds among transects ranged from 0.9-1.