The study of species richness, number, and nesting habits of some of the resident as well as winter visitor birds of Mianwali district [Pakistan]

A total of 10382 birds belonging to 132 species were seen in the cultivation and non-crop areas of Mianwali, from November 1999 to August 2000. Out of the 23 bird orders reported to be represented for whole of Pakistan, as many as 16 orders of the birds were represented only in Mianwali. The present study was to observe species richness visitor birds, feeding and nesting sites of birds of Mianwali. Weekly field trips were made in ten month of the year extending from November 1999 to August 2000, on the selected roads radiating towards eight directions i.e., east, west, north and south, and their intermediate ways. Number of various species of birds was also noted in two main habitats i.e., corpland and non-crops habitat. A total of 10382 birds were observed belonging to 132 species and 16 orders i.e., Ciconiformes, Accipitriformes, Falconiformes Galliformes, Gruiformes, Charadiifores, Sclopacidae, Columbiformes, Psittaciformes, Cuculiformes, Strigiformes, Caprimulgiformes, Apodiformes, Coraciiformer, Piciformes and Passeriformes. Passeriformes was the largest represented order with 7449 birds belonging to 75 species while Caprimulgiformes was the least in species diversity. In cultivation 8912 birds belonging to 15 orders on 108 species were seen. Passeriformes was dominant in diversity having 67 species while the order Caprimulgiformes, Galliformes and Strigiformes were less diversified. Order Scolopacidae was totally absent in cropland. The non-crop habitats included open area sparsely vegetated with scrubs and shrubs, inundated area along river Indus, hilly area. A total of 1470 birds belonging to 9 orders were sighted. Here Passeriformes was again the largest order (31 species and 543 birds), while Psittaciformes and Falconiformes were less diversified (one species each). Order Accipitriformes, Galliformes and Cuculiformes were less diversified while order Strigiformes, Caprimulgiformes, Apodiformes and Piciformes were entirely absent from this habitat. A total of 1376 birds corresponding to l1 orders and 47 species were observed on trees in cultivation. Passeriformes was the largest order representing 39 species and 1665 birds. While Caprimulgiformes, Psittaciformes were less diversified and in species richness. On the basis of species diversification or species richness, the two habitats harbored 108 species, and 8912 birds in agro-ecosystem and 64 species and 1470 birds in non-crop habitat of relatively natural ecosystem. As a whole order Passeriformes was highly abundant (7449 birds) and diversified (75 species). Order Ciconiiformes, Coraciiformes and Accipitriformes were also highly diversified with (7 species each) having 932, 306 and 196 birds respectively whereas, order Caprimulgiformes and Strigiformes were less diversified. Sixty-eight species were reported to be resident, 26 were winter visitors and 30 species used to visit the area in summer. Of the winter visitor's 15 species used this area as the feeding ground, whereas 17 species (reported to) bred there too. According to the present study the following birds, which were, previously noted either as winter visitors or summer visitor, were designated as the resident girds of the area Pond Heron, Read Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Brown Rock Chat and Rufous Back Shrike were reported to be summer but these 5 birds were also present in the winter in the present study area. Whereas, Indian Sky Lark, Blue Whistling Thrush, Eastern Pied Wheatear, Pied Wheatear and Grass Hopper Warbler were reported to be winter visitors, where as these birds were also present in the area in summer months. The Maroon Sunbird, Lesser Grey Shrike and Indian Wood Shrike were observed to be present from February to June in the present study. Thus their presence in the area year round indicated to confirm them as resident birds. Nest of some birds were explore from clutch size, 27 species were observed to breed in the area. From these 27 species 18 species are residential and 9 species were summer visitor who bred also in the area. Some information on the feeding habits of some of the frequently occurring birds in the cropland was also recorded. Out of these 28 species, 26 species were insectivorous. Among these 16 were granivorous and 9 were carnivorous too. Out of 28 commonly occurring bird spices, 15 species occurred in number ranging from 127 to 1908. Among these 15 species, 13 species were insectivorous of these five were graniovorous too. Only two species, Ring Dove and Rofous Turtle Dove were exclusively granivorous. Among the rest 14 species, which were common, though in less number, were also insectivorous; of these nine were granivorous too. Omnivory, carnivory and frugivory was less common among these birds visiting cropland. It was concluded that these birds did not pose any threat to the crops in the area rather they might be helpful in controlling the insect in the crops. In the non-crop habitat too, majority of the birds were insectivorous few granivorous too. Carnivory restricted to Black Stork, Pond Heron, Little Egret, Night Heron, Black Vulture, Brahminy kite, Swallow Plover, and Ring Plover etc.