An Estimation 0f Migratory Birds' Population Density in Punjab, Pakistan, with Special Focus on Khushab and Mandi Bahauddin Districts

Migratory birds

Abstract

Migratory water birds are widely used as bio-indicators of wetland and floodplain ecosystem health, since their presence, abundance and distribution respond directly to habitat quality, water availability and disturbance pressure. Although Pakistan forms part of the Indus Flyway, one of Asia's major wintering corridors, quantitative, district-level density data remain scarce, especially for Punjab. This study quantified the population density and spatial distribution of migratory birds across nine habitat sites in Khushab and Mandi Bahauddin districts — namely Khabeki, Uchali and Jhalar lakes, Head Qadirabad, Head Rasul and Khanki Headworks, riverine floodplains, canals and ponds, and rice fields — over six survey rounds conducted between October 2025 and March 2026 using fixed-point counts, line transects and distance-based sampling across 354 ha. Across the survey period, 8,300 individuals belonging to 20 species were recorded, dominated by Common Teal, Eurasian Coot, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler and Mallard. Mean density across all sites was 3.91 birds/ha, peaking at 5.60 birds/ha in January before declining toward late season. Lakes and wetlands supported the highest densities, followed by headworks and barrages, while riverine floodplains and rice fields recorded comparatively lower values. Khushab's lake systems produced higher density than Mandi Bahauddin, even though the latter's more varied habitat mosaic yielded a larger cumulative count. Sites subject to greater grazing, fishing, pollution or pesticide exposure generally supported lower or more dispersed bird numbers. The results establish a district-level baseline for migratory bird density in an under-surveyed part of Punjab and point to the need for targeted wetland protection and disturbance-reduction measures.