Odiaka et al., 2020 Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife & Environment Vol. 12(4) December, 2020 E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] http://www.ajol.info/index.php/jrfwe 19 jfewr ©2020 - jfewr Publications ISBN: 2141 – 1778 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License Odiaka et al., 2020 A SURVEY OF BIRD SPECIES IN ABIGI METROPOLIS, OGUN WATER SIDE LGA, OGUN STATE NIGERIA Odiaka, I. E*., Adebisi-Fagbohungbe, T. A., Ganiyu, O. A., Ogundimu, O. A. and Abdulazeez, F. I. Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, PMB 5054, Jericho Hills, Ibadan Oyo State, Nigeria *Corresponding Author: [email protected]; +234 806 277 4803 ABSTRACT Assessment of the bird species diversity and abundance in Abigi metropolis was carried out in this study. Data were collected during the rainy season (May, June, July and August 2018) and dry season (December 2018, January, February and March 2019 - ). Eight-point counts were used with a distance of 400 m apart. Birds were recorded by sightings or calls and local abundance status of the birds’ species were determined. A total of 28 bird species belonging to 15 families were recorded. Hirundinidae had the highest number of species (six), Ploceidae, Pycynonotidae and Columbidae have three species each while Bucerotidae and Nectaranidae have two species each. All the other families have 1 species each. Fifty percent of the species recorded were classified to be locally rare. The results of this work suggest that a relatively good number of bird species still exist in this community, though human interference like intense farming leading to deforestation has led to the disturbance that caused migration of the bird species within the area. The results obtained from this study will provide information for further research. Keywords: Birds, Survey, Abigi metropolis INTRODUCTION Abigi is a town in Ogun Waterside Local The people of the Local Government Area are Government Area, of Ogun State, Nigeria. Its Yorubas of Ijebu, Ikale and Ilaje tribes. Major geographical coordinates are Latitude 7.416 and economic activities includes: farming, fishing, Longitude 3.854 It has a coastline on the Bight of trading and lumbering. Major crops are cassava, Benin and also borders Lagos Lagoon. Other towns plantain, maize, and rice. The various tourist centers and villages in Ogun water side LGA include: that abound in the Local Government include: Local Ilushin, Ibiade, Lukogbe, Iwopin,Makun-omi, Ode Government Guest House; Makun-Omi, Iwopin Omi, Ibu, Itebu Manuwa, Ibiade, Efire, Lomiro, Boat Estate Regatta Beach, IIusin Rubber Estate Oni, Ayede, Igele, Ayila and Irokun among others. Guest House, Awodikora Okun Beach. The whole area, now referred to as Ogun Waterside, Birds’ assessment in an ecosystem is very vital to was then under the control of a resident District its management (Verma et al. 2004). It is a good Office (D.O.) at Ijebu Ode. It is bounded in the west ecological practice all over the world that makes by Ijebu East Local Government, in the north and many species and habitats to be under constant the east by Ondo State and in the south, by Lagos monitoring. The nature of endemism as well as State and Atlantic Ocean. The 2006 estimated species richness in the ecosystem could be population of the Ogun Waterside LGA is 74,222. It determined (Caldecott et al. 1996; Lovett, 1998; covers an area of about 860.32 square kilometers Williams et al. 2003). The threatening effects of with some towns and villages on the fringes of the environmental changes and anthropogenic activities Atlantic Ocean (NPC, 2006). on wild fauna require a good documentation JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN FORESTRY, WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENT, VOLUME 12, NO. 4, DECEMBER, 2020 A SURVEY OF BIRD SPECIES IN ABIGI METROPOLIS, OGUN WATER SIDE LGA, OGUN STATE NIGERIA 20 (Caldecott et al., 1996; Williams et al., 2003; Sodhi Irokun among others. The whole area now referred et al., 2004). to as Ogun Waterside. In bird conservation, the estimate of bird abundance Data collection point is widely u used. For example, they allow man to The study was carried during rainy and dry seasons measure changes in population size (Buckland et in 2018 and 2019. Point count method (Sutherland al., 2010) and to assess whether isolated et al., 2009) was used to collect data on bird populations are workable (Githiru and Lens, 2006). species. This method was adopted because it allows Information on population of individual species of the observer to travel within the area and stops at bird can also be used to set priorities, allowing predefined spots, allow the birds to settle, and then conservation effort to be focused on species that are record all the birds that are seen or heard. Bird threatened with extinction. In places where there are count was between 06:30h and 10:00h in the high human population densities, both guarded morning. To remove error of double counting, the areas and unprotected forests (community forests) minimum distance between two counting points of have been encroached and converted to agricultural 400 m was maintained. In all, 8 counting points land and arable cropping.. Dunn (1999) provided an were used. On arrival at the sites, birds were explicit list of birds of the African Savannah allowed time to settle before recording all the birds Woodlands. Hence, baseline information on the that were seen or heard for 15 minutes (Andrew et abundance and diversity of birds is important for al., 1997). Bird calls were also recorded with a conservation management and educational voice recorder and played back later for purposes. For this reason, there is immediate need confirmation. Bird identification was aided with a to document bird species in Abigi settlement and for pair of Binoculars (8 × 40). Physical features of the records; no published inventory work on birds birds sighted but could not be identified has ever been carried out in this settlement. immediately were noted and later identified with field guide book of West African birds (Burrow and This study aimed at providing an inventory of bird Demey, 2011). species within Abigi community, waterside LGA, Ogun Sate, Nigeria to serve as baseline data for the RESULTS conservation of bird species in the area.Abigi is Result obtained showed A total number of 28 bird surrounded by some trees like Khaya ivorensis, species belonging to 15 families with Hirundinidae Cordia millenii, Sterculia sp., Nauclea diderrichii, having the highest number of species (6), Ploceidae, Mansonia altissima, Terminalia sp., Celtis sp., Pycynonotidae and Columbidae having 3 species Brachystegia sp., Alstonia congensis and Milicia each while Bucerotidae and Nectaranidae have 2 excelsa and chrysophyllum albidum,. Also fruit species each. All the other families have 1 species crops like Cocos nucifera, Mangifera indica, Carica each. Fifty percent of the species recorded were papaya and Musca spp. classified to be locally rare. Table below shows some of the birds in different MATERIAL AND METHODS families that are rare such Fanti saw-wing, Mosque Study Area swallows, Swamp palm bulbul. Village weaver as This study was carried out in Abigi, one of the expected in any community was very abundant. major towns in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria. Its geographical Figure 1 shows the Local abundance status of birds’ coordinates are 6° 29' 0" North, 4° 24' 0" East. It species in Abigi Settlement. About 40% of the has a coastline on the Bight of Benin and also species recorded were encountered at least once in borders Lagos Lagoon. Other towns and villages all the surveys and so were considered to be locally Abigi include: Ilushin, Ibiade, Lukogbe, rare. Iwopin,Makun-omi, Ode Omi, Ibu, Itebu Manuwa, Ibiade, Efire, Lomiro, Oni, Ayede, Igele, Ayila and JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN FORESTRY, WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENT, VOLUME 12, NO. 4, DECEMBER, 2020 Odiaka et al., 2020 21 Table 1: Birds’ species recorded in Abigi Family Common Names of Birds Scientific Names Local abundance Accipitridae Yellow billed kite Milvus aegyptius common Bucerotidae Piping hornbill Bycanistes fistula Rare White-thighed hornbill Bycanistes albotibialis Occasional Cisticolidae Tawny flanked Prinia subflava Occasional Columbidae African green pigeon Treron calvus Common Blue headed wood Dove Red eyed dove Turtur brehmeri Common Streptopelia semitoqout Common Cuculidae Senegal coucal Centropus senegalensis Rare Estrildidae Grey-headed negrofinch Nigrita canicapillus Rare Hirundinidae Fanti saw-wing Psalidoprocne obscura Rare Wire-tailed swallow Hirundo smithii Rare Mosque swallows Cecropis senegalensis Rare Ethiopian swallow Hirundo aethiopica Rare Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Rare Banded martin Riparia cincta Rare Lybiidae Yellow-throated tinkerbird Pogonilus subsulphurus Common Metropidae Little bee eater Metrops pusillus Common Motacillidae Western-yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Rare Nectarariidae Green headed sunbird Cyanomitra verticalis Rare Olive sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea Common Passeridae Northern grey headed sparrow Passer griseus Rare Phasianidae Double spurred francolin Pternistis bicalcaratus Common Ploceidae Black necked weaver Ploceus nigricollis Rare Red vented malimbe Malimbus scutatus Common Village weaver Ploceus cucullatus Abundant Pycynonotidae Common bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus Common Simple greenbul Chlorocichla simplex Common Swamp palm bulbul Thescelocicha leucopleura Rare Figure1: Status of Birds in Abigi Metropolis,Ogun State. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN FORESTRY, WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENT, VOLUME 12, NO. 4, DECEMBER, 2020 A SURVEY OF BIRD SPECIES IN ABIGI METROPOLIS, OGUN WATER SIDE LGA, OGUN STATE NIGERIA 22 the Convention on International Trade in DISCUSSION Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora During the period of survey, a total of 28 bird (CITES), which regulates international trade in species belonging to 15 families were recorded. specimens of wild animals and plants (Dewey et al. Hirundinidae had the highest number of species 2002). six), Ploceidae, Pycynonotidae and Columbidae have 3 species each, and Bucerotidae and During the survey, 50% of the birds’ species were Nectaranidae have 2 species each.