Avifauna of Mt. Kimangkil Range, Bukidnon Province, Mindanao Island, Philippines
2002
Saguindang, F.J. | Nuneza, O.M. (Mindanao State Univ., Tibanga, Iligan City 9200 (Philippines). Iligan Inst. of Technology) Tabaranza, B.R. Jr
Mist netting, bird watching and general observations were the survey techniques used to assess the avifauna of Mt. Kimangkil Range, Bukidnon Province, Mindanao Island. Forty-three species of birds including one recently described species (Scolopax bukidnonensis) (Kennedy et.al 2001), belonging to 11 orders, 22 families and 36 genera, were recorded from the four sampling sites established at elevations of 1000-1250 (site 1), 1300-1350 (site 2), 1400-1500 (site 3) and 1700-1800 (site 4) meters above sea level. Out of 43 species recorded, six are threatened (one critical, one endangered and four vulnerable) and two are near-threatened species. Thirty of these species are Philippine endemics of which 11 are endemic to Mindanao. Results showed that endemism increases with elevation whereas species richness decreases with increasing elevation. Hence, site 4 (in a mossy forest) had the highest degree of endemism (91%) but had the lowest species diversity (H'=1.20). On the other hand, site 2 (in a secondary forest) had the most abundant species of birds (S-89) and had the highest species diversity (H'=2.60). Using Sorensen's Similarity Index (SI), the most similar sites were 2 and 3, with SI=62%. Mt. Kimangkil Range in a home to many Philippine endemic bird species that are globally at risk. Rapid conversion of logged-over forest into agricultural area and hunting are two of the biggest threats to the avifauna of this range. Therefore, there is an urgent need to protect and conserve the forests of Mt. Kimangkil Range so that its avifauna can be saved from possible extinction
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