Asian Journal of Research and Review in Agriculture 3(2): 1-18, 2021; Article no.AJRRA.385 Assessment of Existing Palearcatic Migrant Birds in Jabel El Dayer National Park, North Kordofan State, Sudan Ahmed H. Ibrahim1, Mohammed A. O. Rahom2, Tigani Allam2 and Muneer E. S. Eltahir3* 1Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Kordofan, Sudan. 2Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum, Sudan. 3Institute of Gum Arabic Research and Desertification Studies, University of Kordofan, Sudan. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. Authors AHI and TA designed the study, performed the statistical analysis and wrote the protocol. Authors AHI and MESE managed wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Authors MAOR and TA managed and supervised the study. Author MESE managed the analysis and literature searches. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Received 22 February 2021 Accepted 29 April 2021 Original Research Article Published 04 May 2021 ABSTRACT This study was conducted in Jebel El Dayer National Park, North Kordofan state-Sudan during 2014 to 2018. This research aimed to identify Palearcatic migrant birds, all direction on the top of the Jebel was surveyed. The study depended on direct observation using field binocular, digital camera, (GPS) device for coordinating and bird types using manuals. Seven visits were done to cover the main areas where seven out of them represented the main entrances of the Jebel in addition to two areas on top of the mountain. Data were analyzed descriptively in Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) where frequencies, means and percentages were calculated. The results were showed in tables and figures. The results of the study showed that Palearcatic migrant bird are found in high diversity. One hundred and twenty nine (129) Palearcatic migrant bird species were recorded during this research. These species included in 14 orders and thirty seven (37) families. Showed Palearcatic migration bird species that found in all directions of the study area. There were 7 species recorded in all directions of the mountain. Regarding the abundance of Palearcatic bird species, they divided index according to Nicklaus (1987). They were 5 divisions uncommon (Un) which included 43 species represented 33.3%, rare (R) encompassed 49 species represented 38%, common (C) included 19 species represented 14.7%, very rare (VR) involved 14 species represented 10.9%, and finally the lowest abundance was very common (VC) encompassed 4 species represented 3.1%. However, frequency for years 2014 showed the highest percentage 48.4% followed by 2018 which showed 40.5% and minimum percentage was in the year 2015 showed 11.1%. It also recommend setting working plan aiming at sustainable development and optimum utilization of the resources. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: Email: [email protected]; Ibrahim et al.; AJRRA, 3(2): 1-18, 2021; Article no.AJRRA.385 Keywords: Palearcatic birds; Jabel El Dayer; ecology; biodiversity; abundance; conservation. 1. INTRODUCTION and several other factors, such as temperature and productivity, vary along the environmental Biosphere reserves promote and facilitate gradient associated with elevation because various functions. They play an essential role in elevation affects the condition of the physical providing the environmental ecosystem services environment and the kinds and amounts of through their three zones and functions [1]. They resources available for breeding and foraging also offer financial income opportunities and activities [8]. The composition and structure of contributing to sustainable development [2]. bird communities may change along elevation Moreover, they generate employment gradients, [8]. Bird explorations in the Sudan opportunities both directly (park management, have really begun about the year 1820, earlier rangers, foresters) as well as indirectly than that date, the most important contribution (recreation-related services, research, etc.). seems to be that of James Bruce in 1772 [13]. 1n Conservation in them can be seen in the 1918, Scalater and Macworth-Praed made the protection and the long-term maintenance of first comprehensive list of Sudanese birds and human values and uses [1]. They provide sites recognized 713 species. Bowen (1926 and 1932) for research and studies, contribute to the as quated by Nickolaus, [14] published a sustainable development and poverty alleviation catalogue of bird species of the Sudan. The first through the management plans that integrate filed guide on Sudanese birds was published by and involve the local communities in and around Cave and Macdonal [13]. Nickolaus discovered the protected areas [1]. National Parks provide some Birds new to South Sudan [15,16]. This the chance for economic development of the included 938 bird species belonging to 76 communities through provision of food, cover and families [14] including more than 200 migratory medicinal resources [3]. Ecosystem disturbance species coming from Europe and Asia. A large alters the relationship of organisms and their number of African birds have regular seasonal habitat in time and space. Some species of birds movements within the continent, always may adapt to the human habitation and mining coinciding with the rain season [10]. This environment as it provides easy food and habitat research aimed to identify Palearcatic migrant [4,5]. Identifying the habitat requirements of birds birds out in Jebel El Dayer National Park. is essential of protecting habitat to maintain populations of the species. Numerous studies 2. STUDY AREA have focused on the proximate habitats used by birds, describing features associated with, for This study was carried out in Jebel El Dayer example, the territories, song perches, or nest National Park, during the period 2014-2015 and sites of breeding birds [6,7]. Few studies have 2018. Jebel El Dayer National Park has been investigated the relative importance of proximate declared as a national Park in April 2010. Jebel and landscape-scale factors [7]. Identifying the El Dayer lies in North Kordofan State which lies scales at which birds respond most strongly to within the arid and semi-arid ecological zones landscape features would help clarify and explain between latitude 12º-25º, 13º-45º North and effects of fragmentation on bird distributions. Longitude 29º-35º, 30º-30ºEast.The topography Scale information could also guide habitat of the land range from sandy soil in the north to management, ensuring that efforts are applied at Gardud soil (type of clay soil) in the south with appropriate scales. Identifying dominant scales some valleys and mountains [17]. These soils of response also would be useful in predicting vary from sandy interspaced by silt depressions environmental responses in contrasting in the northern parts (Mitchell, 1991). It is about agricultural areas and wooded landscapes. Much 39 km from El Rahad town and about 10 km from of the initial research on the influence of different Jebel Dambair [18]. It rises over 1000 m above scales on breeding birds has emphasized forest the surrounding terrain and about 1451m above dwelling species [7,8,9,10,11,12]. In that context, sea level. Most of the North Kordofan region is landscape-scale habitat fragmentation has fairly flat and with a series of low linear sand emerged as an important factor influencing dunes, marginally suited for subsistence population levels and reproductive success. agriculture as well as for commercial crops such Occurrence of bird species correlates with the as Sudan peanut, sesame, and Gum Arabic [19] vegetation structure, in turn, vegetation structure (Abdalhameed, 2005) [20] (Fig. 1). 2 Ibrahim et al.; AJRRA, 3(2): 1-18, 2021; Article no.AJRRA.385 Fig. 1. Satellite image of Jebel El Dayer N.P Source: (Ahmed, 2018) 3. METHODOLOGY study period during the rainy season, winter and summer. The length of the visit varied from 14 The survey was focused on the main entrances days to one month. Identification and counting of of the mountain which represent the locations in different vertebrates was done by direct all directions in addition to the two areas inside observation with the aid of bird watching the mountain (a nursery and (Sering and El Zollal binoculars, digital camera, GPS and field guide springs). These areas are characterized by books. The survey started daily in the early abundance of water, dense trees and wildlife. morning at 05:00 lasting at 19:00 in the evening. The study area was divided into (9) locations The observer walks along a route with an they represented the main entrances to the approximate length of 8km. The observed wildlife mountain from all directions and often contain species were identified and recorded. water sources whether springs are permanently or temporary springs flux or mayas or seasonal 3.2 Status and Abundance of Birds pools which depend on rainfall where all wildlife and human could use for drinking. Bird status and abundance were done following Nickolaus [14] as stated below: 3.1 Identification and Counting of Palearcatic Migrant Birds 1- Very Rare (VR): The species seen once or twice throughout the study period. The study was conducted in two successive 2- Rare (R): The species seen in very low years in the protected area of Jebel El Dayer numbers throughout the study period. National Park. Seven visits were done during the 3 Ibrahim et al.; AJRRA, 3(2): 1-18, 2021; Article no.AJRRA.385 3- Uncommon (U): The species seen in small birds in Dinder National Park as one of the numbers throughout the study period. biggest park in Sudan is about 13.695 in five 4- Common (C): The species seen in Mayas studied comprises 54 different species. reasonable number throughout the study The distribution of birds in Dinder National Park period. mainly depends in the availability of water and 5- Very common (VC): The species seen in food [21]. Following the duty were Falconiformes large number throughout the study period. included 21 species belonging consist of families (Accipiteridae and Falconidae).