Abundance of birds in six selected habitats

Bird species world over are faced with the problem of habitat changes. Conservation of birds in fragments of habitats is increasingly important due to the diverse uses of the environment. To meet this challenge, predicting abundance of bird species in relation to specific vegetation taxa in the habitats is required .This study determined bird species abundance and their relationship with habitat variables of tree, shrub and herb abundance. Study conducted in the forested bitumen belt of Ode-Irele, Ondo state, Nigeria evaluated habitat use by birds using 20- minutes birds point count to a radius of 30 meters, carried out in six selected habitats. The vegetation cover was sampled using 5x5-meters and 1m 2 quadrants. Data collected were subjected to t-test of independent variables with LSD in ANOVA for birds’ use of habitats and linear regression for the dependence of birds’ abundance on habitats’ variables.88 bird species belonging to 31 families were associated with the study area. The abundance of birds was significantly affected by habitat types (P<0.05) and predicted by habitat variables. The study would assist decision makers in the management and conservation of habitats’ variables critical to the survival of bird species during the bitumen development phase. Keywords : Abundance, Birds, Bitumen, Conservation, Habitats, Nigeria