Bird of Mesangat in East Kutai, East Kalimantan

The reduction of forest cover and wetland to plantations has a negative effect on local avifauna. A survey was conducted along the Mesangat swamp in the Muara Ancalong district to estimate bird diversity in wetland and it forest habitats. Observation and traps were set up in open-bodies of water and lowland forest dominated by Malotus sumatranus and Calamus spp. A total of 70 species were recorded belonging to 58 genera across 33 families in 14 orders. The bird species were grouped into 8 categories according to their main food preferences; nectarivorous, piscivorous, carnivorous, insectivorous, granivorous, frugivorous, herbivorous, and omnivorous. Of these avifauna groups, insectivorous are the most abundant followed by piscivorous while herbivorous and omnivorous is being the least abundant. Based on the IUCN Red List, 2 species are listed as vulnerable, 13 species as near threatened, and the remaining 55 species are of least concern. In addition, 24 species are identified as protected species and 46 species are considered unprotected according to the Government Act (88) No. 7, 1999. The presence of vulnerable species in this study highlights the potential of Mesangat swamp as an important conservation area for avifauna.