Study Of Avifauna Of Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary, Kashmir Himalaya: Diversity, Status And Seasonal Variation

Abstract

The value of local and regional landscapes for avian conservation requires a thorough understanding of the diversity and structure of bird communities. The present study was conducted in the Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary to assess the diversity, status and seasonal variation of avifauna. Weekly surveys were conducted from July 2019 to December 2021, following the line transect method. 102 bird species were recorded during the study period, categorized under 12 orders and 37 families, including 60 resident species, 24 summer migrants, 3 winter visitors, 8 passage migrants and 7 local altitudinal migrants. Among the dominant families, the Muscicapidae accounted for 17 species with a 15.7 relative diversity index value. Renyi diversity profile and rarefaction analysis revealed that of all the studied seasons, the summer season has the highest diversity and richness. Considerable variation in Sorensen dissimilarity between different seasonal pairs was observed, with the lowest dissimilarity found between summer and autumn (βSOR = 0.07) and the highest between autumn and winter (βSOR = 0.21). The current study will serve as a baseline for future avian research as well as for management implications in the sanctuary.