23 International Journal of Research in Zoology 2012; 2(4): 23-27 Original Article ISSN 2278 –1358 Birds in the arid and semi-arid forests of Kachchh: its status, diversity and composition * Nikunj B. Gajera 1 , Arun Kumar Roy Mahato 2 and V. Vijay Kumar 3 1 Department of Earth and Environment Science, KSKV Kachchh University, Bhuj-370001, Gujarat, India, 2,3 Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology, Mundra Road, P. O. Box No. 83, Bhuj (Kachchh) -370001, Gujarat, India, Tel: (+ 91) 02832-329408, 235025 Fax: (+ 91) 02832-235027 *gajeranikunj@gmail.com, akroymahato@gmail.com, vijay196129@gmail.com Received 31 October 2012; accepted 10 November 2012 Abstract Forest is defined as “the complex ecosystem consisting mainly of trees that buffer the earth and support numerous life forms”, which is critically important habitat in terms of its biological diversity and ecological service. The present study was conducted in western Kachchh which is characterized by gentle undulate terrain. The forests of this district are mainly categorized as tropical thorn forest. Bird survey was done using direct count methods which include: (1) Point Count method and (2) Area Search method. A total of 167 species were recorded from forest areas of arid and semi-arid regions of the study area. Of which 23 species were migrants, 28 species were local migrants, and 116 species were resident breeders. Among the recorded species, 9 species have been listed in the red list category of IUCN 2011 © 2012 Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved Key words: Birds, Forest, Habitats, Diversity, Kachchh. Introduction: Forest is defined as “the complex ecosystem consisting mainly of trees that buffer the earth and support numerous life forms” [1] which is critically important habitat in terms of its biological diversity and ecological services. The loss of forests leads to human health risk, accelerated global warming and climate change, increased watershed disruption, loss of water and loss of biodiversity. Drylands are unique in term of presence of large number of endemic bird species as 217 endemic bird areas (EBAs) are distributed in arid and semi-arid region of world as identifies by Birdlife International [2] Birds have high endemic as compared to other groups of vertebrate [3]. The status of bird populations are one of the best indicator of healthy environment [4]. Birds are often used as a biological model and good ecological indicators as they are easily observable [5]. The various aspects of abvi-faunal diversity like the habitats they utilize, the relationships between bird species diversity and habitat attributes like vegetation structure and heterogeneity, distribution and community organization and disturbances were studied by different authors time to time which includes Karr [6], Karr and Roth [7], Beedy [8], Nilson [9], Rice et al. [10], Jayson & Mathew [11], Raman [12], Howe et al. [13], Landers and MacMahon [14] and Henle et.al. [15]. The important bird areas are in danger, as human interference, habitat fragmentation, loss of habitat, competition between species, illegal trade etc. and are becoming the major threats to bird diversity [16]. Thus minimizing the loss of bird diversity and restoration of biodiversity require detail study on the status and diversity in habitat types like forest, grassland, wetland etc. Thus, this study was attempted to conduct a detailed study on the forest birds of arid and semi-arid region of Kachchh district as this district is one of the rich areas of birds. Materials and Methods: Study area: Kachchh, (22 o 41’11” to 24 o 41’47” N and 68 o 9’46” to 71 o 54’47”), extending over 45,652 sq. km. area lies in the western part of Gujarat state and falls under the Desert bio- geographic zone and 3B Desert - Kachchh Province [17]. It is bestowed with major terrestrial ecosystems like, tropical thorn forest, scrub savannah, grasslands and interspersed with dry land farming (arid agro-ecosystem). Kachchh falls in the arid tract and has a tropical monsoon climate. It experiences extremes of weather conditions with winter starting from mid November to end February with the temperature going down to the average minimum of 4.6 o C in January and Summer extends from March till June Available online at http://www.urpjournals.com International Journal of Research in Zoology Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved