Avifaunal diversity with reference to their feeding guilds of Mahadare Conservation Reserve, Maharashtra, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.10118.18.9.29596-29605Keywords:
Baseline data, bird conservation, ecotone, feeding behavior, functional diversity, guild distribution, scheduled species, Western GhatsAbstract
The study aims to provide baseline data on avian diversity and their feeding guilds in the Mahadare Conservation Reserve. Surveys were conducted over a period of two years, from April 2021 to May 2023, with point count methods. A total of 126 species of birds were recorded, with the order Passeriformes being dominant, followed by Accipitriformes. The findings also showed that the Insectivore guild had the highest number of species, followed by Carnivore and Omnivore guilds, respectively. Furthermore, the study also recorded high feeding guild diversity (H’FD = 2.247), which provides a basis for diversity and feeding behavior. The records include seven endemic, three ‘Vulnerable’, and two ‘Near Threatened’ species, along with seven winter migrants and 23 local migrant species, highlighting the avifaunal significance of the area. The study area is surrounded by human settlements and still holds a diversity of birds, and attention is required to understand more about the guilds, along with their distribution and preferences. This first-time study documents avifaunal diversity, evaluates feeding guilds, and assesses the conservation significance of Mahadare Conservation Reserve.
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