COMPARATIVE AVIAN FAUNAL DIVERSITY OF JIWANI COASTAL WETLANDS AND TAUNSA BARRAGE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, PAKISTAN

This study was undertaken to compare the population of avifauna of Jiwani Coastal Wetlands Complex and Taunsa Barrage Wetland. In one year study period the number of species recorded at Jiwani Coastal Wetland was 109, representing 16 orders and 38 families and at Taunsa Barrage was 110 which belongs to 45 families. At Taunsa Barrage Ardeidae remain dominant while syllviidae were the family which has greatest bird species found at the study site. The family Oriolade had only one bird species, while out of 110 species, 66 were resident, 8 were breeding resident, 34 were winter visitor and only 2 were summer visitor. At Jiwani Coastal Wetland out of 109 bird species, 77 species were migratory and 32 species were recorded as resident. The common species found at both the study sites were 49. The most critical threat facing the birds is the destruction and fragmentation of habitat. Fishing activities and illegal hunting by local people are also the major threats to the avifauna