Species composition, seasonal abundance and distribution of avifauna in Lake Hawassa and part of the Eastern Wetland habitats, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was carried out in Lake Hawassa, Tikur wuha riverine habitat and Cheleleka wetland from August 2017 to February 2018. The study aims to investigate species composition, seasonal abundance and distribution of birds. Systematic random sampling techniques at an interval of 3 km were used to select sampling blocks. T-test and one way ANOVA were applied for analysis of the effect of season on the composition and abundance of species. The result showed a total of 103 avian species record belonging to 47 families and 14 orders during the wet and dry seasons. Of the species recorded, (71) bird species (68.93%) were residents, 29 Palaearctic migrants (28.16%) and 3 Intra-African migrants (2.91 %). The overall species composition of birds during the wet and dry seasons was not significantly different, but there was a significant difference within the study sites. There was no significant seasonal difference in the abundance of birds in Lake Hawassa and the riverine habitat.  However, dry season had an effect on the avian abundance in Cheleleka wetland. Distributions of bird species were variable in the study areas. The results imply the need to conserve the avifauna of the whole study sites through the conservation of their habitats.   Key words: Wetland birds, abundance, endemic, migrant, resident.