Diversity and abundance of avifauna in the Suba Forest area, central Ethiopia

Birds are one of the best-described taxa, but detailed knowledge about most bird species in Ethiopia remains rare, which hinders the development and evaluation of conservation strategies in the region. In this study, we estimated bird species diversity and abundance in the Suba Forest area (comprising natural forest and adjacent plantation forest and farmland) in central Ethiopia, during the dry and wet seasons in 2021. Bird data were collected using line transects or point counts in each habitat type. Two-way ANOVA was applied to evaluate the effect of habitat and season on bird species richness and abundance. A total of 132 bird species belonging to 51 families were recorded during the study. Of these, 124 are residents, 4 are endemic to Ethiopia, 11 are endemic to Ethiopia and Eritrea, and 4 are near endemics (one largely confined to Ethiopia and the others with their core populations in Ethiopia and Eritrea). Habitat type and season both had significant effects on species abundance and richness. Species diversity was highest in natural forest during the wet season, and lowest in farmland during the dry season. Plantation forest and farmland shared similar avian communities, with both being human-altered habitats in close proximity to each other. Native forest supported the highest number of bird species, which confirms the Suba Forest area's great potential for biodiversity conservation and sustainable wildlife tourism. Continuous monitoring of this area and effective implementation of conservation measures will provide beneficial outcomes for not only avifauna but other taxa. Les oiseaux sont un des groupes les mieux decrits de la biodiversite terrestre, mais les connaissances detaillees sur la plupart des especes d'oiseaux en ethiopie restent rares, ce qui entrave le developpement et l'evaluation des strategies de conservation dans la region. Dans cette etude, nous avons estime la diversite et l'abondance des especes d'oiseaux dans la foret naturelle, la foret de plantation et les terres agricoles de la foret de Suba, en ethiopie centrale, pendant la saison seche et et la saison des pluies de 2021. Les donnees sur les oiseaux ont ete collectees a l'aide de transects lineaires ou de points de comptage dans les trois habitats. Une ANOVA a deux facteurs a ete utilisee pour evaluer l'effet de l'habitat et de la saison sur la richesse et l'abondance des especes. Au total, 132 especes d'oiseaux appartenant a 51 familles ont ete identifiees au cours de la periode d'etude. Parmi elles, 124 etaient residentes, 4 etaient endemiques a l'ethiopie, 11 etaient endemiques a l'ethiopie et a l'erythree, et 4 etaient des 'presque-endemiques' (une presque entierement confine a l'ethiopie, et les autres avec la plus grande partie de leurs populations entre l'ethiopie et l'erythree). Le type d'habitat et la saison ont eu des effets significatifs sur l'abondance et la richesse des especes: la diversite des especes etant la plus elevee dans les forets naturelles pendant la saison humide, et la plus faible sur les terres agricoles pendant la saison seche. Les habitats des forets de plantation et des terres agricoles partagent des communautes d'oiseaux similaires, etant tous les deux des habitats modifies par l'homme et situes a proximite l'un de l'autre. La plus grande diversite d'oiseaux enregistree dans la foret naturelle confirme le grand potentiel de la region pour la conservation de la biodiversite et pour le developpement du tourisme de nature durable. La surveillance continue de la zone d'etude et la mise en oeuvre efficace de mesures de conservation auront des effets benefiques non seulement sur l'avifaune, mais aussi sur d'autres taxons de la region.

Automated summary

This study estimated bird species diversity and abundance in the Suba Forest area of central Ethiopia and found that habitat type and season significantly influenced bird abundance and richness. Native forest supported the highest number of bird species, highlighting the region's potential for biodiversity conservation and sustainable wildlife tourism. Continuous monitoring and effective conservation measures will benefit not only avifauna but also other taxa in the region.