Journal of Bioresource Management Volume 4 Issue 2 Article 4 A Study on the Birds of Urban Islamabad in Moonsoon Season Ehjaz Raza Abbas Institute of Natural and Management Sciences (INAM), Pakistan Sabiha Shamim Center for Bioresource Research (CBR), Pakistan, [email protected] Fida Muhammad Khan Center for Bioresource Research (CBR), Pakistan, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/jbm Part of the Animal Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Abbas, E. R., Shamim, S., & Khan, F. M. (2017). A Study on the Birds of Urban Islamabad in Moonsoon Season, Journal of Bioresource Management, 4 (2). DOI: 10.35691/JBM.7102.0072 ISSN: 2309-3854 online (Received: Jun 17, 2019; Accepted: Jun 18, 2019; Published: Apr 1, 2017) This Article is brought to you for free and open access by CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Bioresource Management by an authorized editor of CORE Scholar. 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This article is available in Journal of Bioresource Management: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/jbm/vol4/ iss2/4 Ehjaz et al.,: A Study on the Birds of Urban Islamabad J. Bioresource Manage. (2017) 4(2):46-56. A STUDY ON THE BIRDS OF URBAN ISLAMABAD IN MOONSOON SEASON 1Ehjaz Raza Abbas, 2*Sabiha Shamim, 2Fida Muhammad Khan 1 Institute of Natural and Management Sciences (INAM), Pakistan 2 Center for Bioresource Research (CBR), Pakistan *Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Every species constituting the fauna of an environment plays an important role in various aspects of Ecology. Cataloging of available diversity provides base line for any advancement in conservation. This study was designed to gather information from the field and literature to formulate a checklist of birds. Compartments of study area were visited on appropriate timing and compared with available literature. A checklist was formulated. Comparisons with the existing lists were made and the new distribution of birds was reported. Keywords: Birds, Diversity, Species, Islamabad, Monsoon INTRODUCION winter. Arctic terns migrate 17,000 Km Birds belong to phylum Chordata between their Arctic nesting areas and along with mammals, reptiles and fish their winter grounds in the Antarctica and are distinguished as class Aves. (Heinzel et al., 1979). They are warm-blooded vertebrate Islamabad, the capital of animals that have wings, feathers, a Pakistan lies against the background of beak, no teeth, a skeleton in which many the Margalla Hills at the northern end of bones are fused together or are absent, Potwar Plateau. It offers a healthy and an extremely efficient, one-way climate, pollution free atmosphere; breathing system that is necessary for plenty of water and lush green area. birds to fly. The temperature of birds is Total area of Islamabad is 906.50 Km2 on average, about 100 F above those of lying at altitude ranging from 457 to 610 mammals including man (Austin,1961). m. It is in the eastern and central plains Birds have three basic types of feathers: of the country where the full effect of the downs, contour and flight feathers. monsoon rains is felt. Here the climate Down feathers are next to the bird’s skin throughout the year is similar to that for insulation. The contour is the most found in the northern plains of India. commonly recognized feathers and the Average yearly humidity is 55% and one that covers most of the birds’ body average rainfall is 1143 mm. (Smithsonian, 2002). Bird species MATERIALS AND METHOD migrate to a cooler climate for reproducing and summer feeding, and The study was conducted during then return to a warmer climate for the the monsoon season. The available 46 Ehjaz et al.,: A Study on the Birds of Urban Islamabad J. Bioresource Manage. (2017) 4(2):46-56. literature was searched and the basic information was gathered and time slot The observation slot was then for studies was selected according to the visited on different times of the day and priorities of the available birds in the different days of the week and the birds area. After finalizing study area, it was were photographed and the birds which then divided in different zones. The were not photographed, their minimum appropriate sight within each zone was characteristics were shifted in identified in a way from where illustrations. The checklist was maximum area could be visualized and it formulated and comparison with existing was also assured that the disturbance list was made and the new distribution of from the observer was minimized. birds was reported. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Table 1.1 Common Birds of the Study Area Common Name Scientific Name Status Indian pond heron Ardeola grayii abundant cattle egret Bubulcus ibis resident little egret Egretta garzetta abundant black shouldred kite Elanus caeruleus resident scavenger vulture Neophron pecnopterus resident Oriental white backed vulture Gyps bengalensis abundant Buzzard eagle Bustastur teera resident Steppe eagle Aquila rapax nipalensis resident Eurasian kestrel Falco tinnunculus resident red headed merlin Falco chiequera resident shaheen falcon Falco peregrinus resident peregrinator White breasted water hen Amaurornis phoenenicurus resident moorhen Gallinule cluloropus resident Painted snipe Rostratula benghalensis resident back winged stilt Himantopus himantopus resident red watled lap wing Hoplopetrus indicus resident rock dove Columba livia resident Collared dove Streptopelia decaocto resident Little brown dove Streptopelia senegalensis resident Larger Indian parakeet Psittacula eupatria resident Blossom headed parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala resident Common hawk cuckoo Hierococcyx varius Summer breeding Plaintive cuckoo Cacomantis passerinus Summer breeding Eurasian cuckoo Cuculus canorus Summer breeding Greater coucal Centropus sinensis resident White breasted kingfisher Halcyon smyrenensis resident Pied kingfisher Ceryle rudis resident 47 Ehjaz et al.,: A Study on the Birds of Urban Islamabad J. Bioresource Manage. (2017) 4(2):46-56. Common wood shrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus resident Chestnut Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus resident Night Heron Nycticorax nyctocorax resident Grey Heron Ardea cinerea resident Red vented bulbul Pycnonotus cafer resident white cheeked Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys resident Red Turtle Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica resident Koel Eudynamus scolopacea abundant Himalayan Barred owlet Glaucidium cuculoides resident Hoopoes Upupa epops abundant Blue throated Barbet Megalaima asiatica resident Pied woodpecker Dendrocopos himalayensis abundant Brown-fronted woodpecker Dendrocopos auriceps resident Spoon bill Platalea leucorodia resident European bee- eater Merops apiaster resident Black drongo Dicrurus macrocercus abundant Indian house sparrow Passer domisticus resident Common wood shrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus resident Common babbler Turdoides caudatus resident Purple sunbird Nectarinia asiatica resident Golden oriole Oriolus oriolus resident Brahminy starling Sturnus pagodrum resident Grey drongo Dicrurus leucephaeus Summer breeding Discussion • Ixobrychus sinensis (yellow Family Ardeidae (Bitterns, Egrets and bittern) is not seen in study area Herons) but reported by (Grewal et al., 2002). • Ixobrychus cinnamomeus (Chestnut Bittern) has been • Bubulcus ibis (Cattle Egret) has reported in study area and also been reported in study area and confirmed by (Phyla, 2001; also confirmed by (Grewal et al., Roberts, 1991). 2002; Phyla, 2001; Roberts, 1991). • Nycticorax nyctocorax (Night Heron) has been observed in • Egretta garzetta (Little Egret) study area and also confirmed by has been found in study area and (Roberts,1991; Phyla , 2001). also confirmed by (Grewal et al., 2002; Phyla, 2001; Roberts, • Ixobrychus flavicollin ( Black 1991). Bittern ) was not found in Islamabad while it was reported • Egretta intermedia by ( Phyla , 2001) in the study (Intermediate Egret) has not area. been seen in study area but reported by (Phyla, 2001). 48 Ehjaz et al.,: A Study on the Birds of Urban Islamabad J. Bioresource Manage. (2017) 4(2):46-56. • Ardea purpurea (Purple Heron) seen in study area but reported by has not been seen in study area (Grewal et al., 2002). but reported by (Phyla, 2001). • Gyps bengalensis (White • Ardea cinerea (Grey Heron) has Rumped vulture) has not been been reported in study area and observed in study area but also confirmed by (Roberts, reported by (Grewal et al., 2002). 1991; Phyla, 2001). Family Pycnonotidae (Bulbul) • Casmerodius albus (Great • Pycnonotus cafer (Red vented Egret) has not been