Browsing by Author "Hailu Sisay"

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    Species Composition, Distribution, Relative Abundance and Habitat Association of Avifauna of Wof Washa National Forestry Priority Area, Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2008-07-04) Hailu Sisay; Bekele Afework (Professor)
    Species composition, distribution, abundance and habitat association of birds were surveyed from Wof Washa National Forestry Priority Area (NFPA) and its surroundings along the Ankober-Debre Sina Escarpment from August 2007 to March 2008. Several major habitat types were identified that include dense forest, bushland, modified habitat, farmland, grassland and rocky areas. A point count method with fixed radius (radius = 25 m) and unlimited radius count and line transect methods were used during the study in randomly selected sites. Altogether 158 species of birds were recorded during the time of study. Among these 11 were intra-African migrants, 17 were Palearctic migrants, 4 were Ethiopian endemics, 9 were endemics shared with Eritrea, 101 were resident birds and 5 were globally threatened birds associated with diversified vegetation types of the area. 22 and 35 species were recorded exclusively for the wet and dry season, respectively. The most common habitat preference of avian species with the greatest diversity and richness was the interaction with indigenous plants that produce flowers/nectars, fruits and seeds in the forest habitat and barley crops in the farmland whereas the least interaction of birds was in areas with Eucalyptus plantation of the modified habitat. The abundance and distribution of birds among habitat types were significantly different (P < 0.05). The species distribution and abundance were affected by the vegetation type, season and the interaction between season and habitat types (P < 0.05). Wof Washa NFPA supports wide varieties of species of birds with relatively high number of endemics. The species richness of the area was increased with habitat heterogeneity that provides available resources for food and cover.