RAPTORS IN BATURIYA BIRDS SANCTUARY NORTHWESTERN, NIGERIA

Abstract

The dramatic increase in human pressure, deforestation and general decrease in tree cover, overgrazing and erosion, pesticide use, over-hunting and fishing, and sometimes direct persecution of predators, all impact negatively on birds of prey population. The study aimed to determine the distribution, diversity and abundance of birds of prey in Baturiya wetlands Nigeria, carried out in March to August, 2021, with a view to providing information in a bid to establish a baseline for conservation for this group of birds. Transect line method was used for the bird survey. The survey was carried out for a period of six (6) months using transect line method and each site was surveyed twice every month during the study period. Bird observation was carried out twice daily; morning between 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. and evening between 4:00 to 6:30p.m by walking slowly along the transect line. Birds were counted as birds seen and birds inflight were also counted. Transect line survey method detected a total of 431 individual birds of prey that belong to fifteen (15) species of 2 families. Accipitridae with 13 species is the richest family in species number and Falconidae with 2 species. Out of the 15 species recorded 8 are resident, 4 Palearctic migrant and 3 intra-African migrant. Three species of global conservation concern were also recorded; the Near threatened Red-necked falcon (Falco chicquera) and Pallid harrier (Circus macrourus) and the Endangered Martial eagle (Polemaetusbellicosus ). This survey shows that, the Baturiya bird sanctuary still retained a considerable number of birds of prey species that normally occur in West Africa. However, in order to maintain the bird community and other biodiversity of the wetland, the management needs to increase conservation measures that will ensure the protection of the wetlands. This can be done through training and re-training of more forest guards to ensure protection of the wetlands.