Species diversity and abundance of resident and migratory bird fauna of a North-Western Peri-Urban Area, Karachi

Peri-urbanization involves forms of land altered resulting in a complete restructuring of vegetation and composition of species. The study aims to describe the species richness, evenness, species diversity through the identification, abundance of resident and migratory avifauna in relation to seasonal variation in a northwestern peri-urban area of Karachi. The study was conducted in Gulshane Maymar, Ahsanabad, Abdullah Gabol Goth, Gadap town, and adjacent raw areas such as Super Highway link road upto Mokhi Nala. The status of each bird species was recorded. The total number species were found to be 26 with a total count of individuals of N=6515. The study was based on a time frame of 10 months from February - November 2014. Shannon – Weiner Diversity Index was found to be 2.273, Simpson Index of Diversity was calculated to be 0.97, Margalef’s Index 2.847 and Pielou’s Index 0.698. Birds were identified using field guides by Z. B. Mirza (2007) and Richard Grimmett, Tom Roberts and Tim Inskipp (2008).