Evaluation of Bird Species Richness and Abundance in Sargodha City, Pakistan

Abstract

Urbanization drives landscape transformation and alters habitat structure, vegetation cover, resource availability, and environmental conditions for birds. This study assessed bird species richness, abundance, spatial distribution, diurnal activity, meteorological effects, and community diversity along an urban-to-agricultural gradient in Sargodha City, Punjab, Pakistan.  The study area was categorized into three zones based on anthropogenic disturbance, building density, and vegetation: Site 1 = dense urban core, Site 2 = semi-urban institutional, and Site 3 = peri-urban agricultural. Three 1.0 km line transects with a 50 m width were established in each zone. Birds were recorded visually and by calls; high-altitude flyovers not using adjacent habitat were excluded. Surveys were conducted in morning (06:00–09:00), midday (12:00–15:00), and evening (17:00–19:00) under clear, rainy, and post-rain conditions. Temperature, humidity, and wind speed were recorded.  A total of 6,372 observations of 12 species were recorded: 2,187 at Site 1, 2,010 at Site 2, and 2,175 at Site 3. Corvus splendens was most abundant (1,118), followed by Passer domesticus (845) and Pycnonotus cafer (822). Urban areas were dominated by C. splendens and Columba livia, while P. cafer and Psittacula krameri were abundant in agricultural areas.  Shannon diversity was highest at Site 2 (H′ = 2.270), then Site 3 (2.218), and lowest at Site 1 (1.742). Simpson dominance peaked at Site 1 (D = 0.213) and evenness at Site 2 (J′ = 0.914). Activity was highest in morning (1,042), lowest at midday (542), and moderate in evening (834). Temperature (r = −0.38, p = 0.001) and wind velocity (r = −0.51, p < 0.001) negatively correlated with bird counts. Bray–Curtis dissimilarity was highest between urban and agricultural sites (BC13 = 0.684).  Results indicate significant spatial and temporal variation in bird communities and highlight the need to conserve vegetation, green spaces, agricultural buffers, and ecological connectivity in urban landscapes.