Long-term bird abundance in a threatened grassland ecosystem: an assessment using daily bird lists

Abstract

AbstractOpen Natural Ecosystems (ONEs), such as tropical grasslands, are among the most threatened habitats on Earth today. The long-term monitoring of ONEs is an important research domain that is essential for understanding anthropogenic impacts and facilitating conservation action. Using a simple day-listing method over a 12-year period, we studied bird abundance in a central Indian grassland-agriculture mosaic experiencing several land-use changes. Our results indicate that some grassland species (such as the Great Indian BustardArdeotis nigriceps) show steep declines during the study period, while woodland species (such as the Small MinivetPericrocotus cinnamomeus) show highly fluctuating populations with no discernable trend. Daily listing also reveals distinct seasonal patterns, and we discuss the Great Indian Bustard and Eurasian Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosusas examples. Our study highlights the utility of consistent checklist surveys to monitor abundance trends of bird communities within a changing landscape.