Assessment of avifaunal diversity in riverine and urban areas of Layyah along the River Indus, Punjab-Pakistan

Layyah City is located along the River Indus and provides rich habitat for a wide range of resident and migratory bird species. The present study documents for the first time the avifaunal diversity and abundance of urban and riverine sites of Layyah. Potential habitats around the city were identified and three study sites were selected, one in each of the main habitat types. A total of 223 species was recorded: 92 residents, 87 winter visitors, 42 passage migrants and two new records from the area. A Shannon Wiener Index of 4.36 indicates that the area has a high level of biodiversity. Of the species recorded, 16 are included in the IUCN Red list as vulnerable (N=6), near threatened (N=9) or endangered (N=1). The most abundant species were House Crow Corvus splendens, House Sparrow Passer domesticus, Common Myna Acridotheres tristis and Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris. Two species, Houbam or McQueen's Bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii and Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus were recorded for the first time from the area. Potential threats to the avian diversity of the area are hunting, habitat loss, and pollution.