Evaluation of Wild Birds in the main Campus of Usmanu ‎Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto State Nigeria

Abstract

A re-evaluation study was conducted after eight years of the initial survey to find out the ‎distribution and diversity of avifauna concerning land use types in the main campus of Usmanu ‎Danfodiyo University Sokoto. This was carried out to serve as a follow-up to a survey carried ‎out in 2011 in the study area. Re-evaluation of species diversity is important in conservation as ‎it gives more information on habitat conditions which is necessary for drawing conservation ‎strategies. The study area was stratified into the major land-use types which are Residential, ‎Farmland, Administrative, and Wetland areas. The line transect method was used to collect data ‎on bird abundance and distribution. The Simpson index of diversity (SID) was used to ‎determine species diversity between habitat types whereas the Shannon-Weiner diversity index ‎‎(H) was used to determine species diversity across the entire area. On the other hand, the ‎Equitability index of Evenness (EH) was used to determine evenness in the distribution of ‎avifauna across the entire area. A total of 3183 birds belonging to 23 families and 44 species ‎were recorded. Out of these numbers, 1037(32.58%) were recorded in a residential area, a total ‎of 519 birds (16.31%) were recorded in administrative areas, farmland recorded 1556 birds ‎‎(48.88%), and wetland areas recorded 71 birds (2.23%). The diversity index ranges from 0.45-‎‎0.77 with the highest being administrative areas and the lowest being wetland. The Shannon-‎Weiner diversity index was 2.35 which indicates considerable diversity across the area. ‎