A Preliminar Study of the Avifauna Composition of Four Parks in Salto, São

Abstract

Abstract Birds play several ecological roles, such as plant pollination, seed dispersion, pest control, maintenance of gene flow, also attracting tourists to birdwatching. Therefore, knowledge regarding this biota is relevant for ecology and is important for understanding ecosystem dynamics and how human intervention affects them. The municipality of Salto, located in the southeast of São Paulo/Brazil, is a mutualistic transition zone between three brazilians biomes, predominantly riparian forest present along the banks of Tietê river, supporting ecological tourism among other 70 touristic resorts, gathering landscapes of great scenic beauty. In order to characterize avian community of Salto, we carried surveys in four different preserved parks, from March/2021 to March/2023. Data collection was based on field observations and photographic records on the WikiAves platform, using qualitative criteria, in which 340 native species were acknowledged for the area. The present work stands for the first birdlife characterization attempt for the municipality of Salto, generating relevant data regarding ecological dynamics between remnants, to quantify seasonal migrations in the city and provide subsidies for environmental enrichment in the parks. This work contributes to future conservation initiatives, as well as environmental education and support sustainable local ecotourism.