Bird species richness, evenness and habitat management around airports: a case study of Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad, Pakistan
Sameera Arshad1, Arshad Mahmood Malik2*
1Department of Wildlife Management, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, 46300, Pakistan
2Department of Economics, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, 46300, Pakistan
Abstract
Birds in the vicinity of airports pose threat to the aircraft. These collisions may result in huge economic losses and is also compromise passenger’s safety. Identification of potential hazardous species, present at and in the vicinity of any airfield, is vital to improve bird hazard management at the airfields. Data of bird species present in the vicinity of BBI airport were collected by using point count method from eight different sites, representing different habitats, located around the airfield of the Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad. These sites represented commercial area around hotels, commercial habitat, naturally preserved recreational area, buildings with old pine trees, a water body, a sports ground, a landfill site, and a modern housing society. Data were analyzed for species density and relative abundance in each habitat, using the Simpson biodiversity index, Margalef diversity index, and clustering methods. Mean bird density in the area was found to be 0.0013 bird/m2. Highest bird density was found to be of crow followed by kites and house martin as 0.0068, 0.00269 and 0.00206 birds/m2 respectively. K-dominance species abundance model reflected the presence of kite as dominant species. Mean Simpson diversity index of 1.91 indicated the richness and evenness of species. Similarity index was found to be maximum to a value of 80.81 percent at commercial sites and lowest at modern housing society. Results of the study revealed that different habitats around the airport supported different species, thus, in order to formulate effective management plan for the airfields, species identification, richness, evenness and bird behavior should also be taken into consideration.
Keywords: Kite, Hazardous bird species, Bird habitat, Pakistan, Species density, Species richness and evenness, Islamabad
