Seasonal Diversity and Conservation Value of Birds in Hemja, Nepal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55863/ijees.2026.0937Keywords:
Avifauna, Conservation status, Diversity, Hemja, Seasonal variationAbstract
Seasonal variation influences the survival of birds within ecosystems, as it alters the accessibility of essential ecological resources, such as food, nesting sites, and suitable climates, which fluctuate with the changing seasons. The study was conducted in Hemja Ward No. 25, Kaski District, Nepal, and aimed to assess the diversity of bird species and their seasonal variation. A bird survey was conducted using the point-count method over 15 days each in the winter and summer seasons of 2024. 50-point count stations were placed in four different habitats. Bird species of 14 orders and 43 families were recorded. Order Passeriformes and the Muscicapidae family were found to have the highest species richness. Comparing seasonally, 57 bird species were common to both seasons, but 40 and 20 species were exclusive to the winter and summer seasons, respectively. Among the total recorded species, 102 were resident species, eight were winter visitors, and seven were summer visitors. The highest bird diversity and evenness were found during the winter season (H = 4.01, E = 0.88) compared to the summer season (H = 3.67, E = 0.85), as measured by the Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index. Among them, two globally endangered, and one critically endangered bird species were recorded. The results indicate that this small area is vital for conservation, hosting a diverse bird assemblage that includes birds of global importance.
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