International Journal of Zoology
Volume 2020 (2020), Article ID 5016804, 10 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/5016804

Research Article

Bird Diversity and Community Composition in Kafta Sheraro National Park, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Teklay Girmay, Zeyede Teshome, and Tesfay Tesfamichael

Department of Biology, Adigrat University, P. O. Box 50, Adigrat, Ethiopia

Correspondence should be addressed to Teklay Girmay; tekigir9@gmail.com

Received 1 October 2019; Revised 19 December 2019; Accepted 27 January 2020; Published 20 February 2020

Academic Editor: Hynek Burda

Copyright © 2020 Teklay Girmay et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Birds are one of the most important components of biodiversity that has huge ecological, economical, and esthetic values. The main objective of this study was to assess diversity and species composition of bird community in Kafta Sheraro National Park, Northern Ethiopia. Data were collected from August 2017 to March 2018 in the national park. Point count method was employed to collect data on bird species diversity and species composition. Direct observations of birds and discussion with local people and scouts to assess potential threats of avifauna in the park were made. Shannon diversity index was used to calculate the species diversity. A total of 158 bird species belonging to 52 different families and 20 orders were identified. Of the recorded species, there were 76.6% residents, 15.8% Palaearctic migrants (PM), 5.7% Intra-African migrants (IM), and 1.9% partial migrants. Accipitiridae (11.4%) had the highest species followed by Columbidae, Estrilidae, and Ploceidae with 7%, 5.7%, and 4.4% species, respectively. The highest Shannon–Weiner diversity index (H′ = 4.50) was recorded during February while the lowest (H′ = 2.18) was recorded during March. Species richness of the park showed no significance difference among the study months (χ² = 10.046, df = 5, ). Agricultural expansions, fire, livestock grazing, mining, and poaching were the major threats of the park bird species. Kafta Sheraro National Park is one of the areas with high avian composition in Ethiopia. In the park, wildlife watching in general and ornithological tourism in particular should be developed. Anthropogenic disturbances should also be minimized to conserve avian diversity of the park.

1. Background

Ethiopia possesses many designated protected areas including national parks, sanctuaries, priority forests, and biosphere reserves. High numbers of biodiversity are found within these conservation areas [1]. Ethiopia is endowed with great diversity of flora, fauna, and microbial genetic resources. The country is one of biodiversity-rich countries in the world. According to Lepage [2], Ethiopia is known to be home for 864 species of birds with 19 endemism. In addition, the number of mammals, reptile, fish, amphibian, and arthropod species identified so far is 284, 201, 200, 63, and 1,225, respectively. Of these faunal resources, 29 wild mammals, 10 reptiles, 40 fishes, 25 amphibians, and 7 arthropod species are endemic to the country [3]. Birds are one of the most important components of biodiversity with huge ecological, economical, and esthetic values. Fruit-eating birds help in dispersal of seeds. Some birds help in production of nectars and used as source of food in different parts of the world. They also serve as indicators of environmental conditions [4, 5].

Wildlife tourism is one of the key economic activities for countries that have rich biodiversity and high endemism [6]. Economic value of wildlife watching tourism is particularly important. Accordingly, wildlife watching in general and bird watching in particular are the most practiced type of the people’s income in many African countries [7]. Bird watching is becoming a new area of tourism. It is currently developing and generating significant economic benefit in different countries [8]. Countries which are benefiting from bird watching are those who have documented the necessary information on their ornithological studies. Ornithological knowledge helps to know the locations or distributions of the birds, their diversity, and to analyze the impact of direct and indirect effects of tourism on biodiversity [9]. However, no study has assessed the diversity and species composition of the avifauna of Kafta Sheraro National Park. As a result, only few international tourists are visiting it unlike the other Ethiopian National Parks although the national park contains great biodiversity including birds. Therefore, it is expected that this project will help to develop bird-watching tourism of the park.

Kafta Sheraro National Park (KSNP) is a newly established park in Tigray province, Ethiopia. Accordingly, it has little ecological information. Preliminary wildlife assessment of the park showed that the park is rich in faunal diversity. For instance, caracal (Felis caracal), leopard (Panthera pardus), greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), oribi (Ourebia ourebi), waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), aardvark (Orycteropus afer), roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus), and the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) are some of the larger mammals known in this area [10]. It is also believed that the park contains different unidentified aquatic and terrestrial bird species [11]. Information about avian diversity and abundance is very important for attracting local and international tourists and for conservation of the species. However, no study has been conducted to investigate the diversity and relative abundance of avian species of Kafta Sheraro National Park (KSNP). Thus, this study aims to investigate the diversity and species composition of avian diversity in the national park.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Description of the Study Area

Kafta Sheraro National Park (KSNP), which was recognized as a park in 2007 (Letter, No: 13/37/82/611), is situated in the northwest of Ethiopia between 14°3′ and 14°27′N and 36°41′ and 37°40′E. It is located in West and North West zones of the Regional State of Tigray, Ethiopia. It is found between Kafta Humera, Tahtay Adiyabo, and Welkayit woredas. The national park is bordered by Eritrea in the north, and it is presumed to have an estimated total area of 2176.43 km² (Figure 1). It is the only national park in Tigray Regional State, and it is about 1015 km away from Addis Ababa. Its altitude ranges from 550 to 1800 masl. The agroclimatic zone is identified as Qolla with an inclination to semiarid. Vegetation communities within the park include Acacia-Commiphora, Combretum-Terminalia, dry evergreen montane woodlands, and riparian types. The site has a monomodal pattern of rain with high peaks in May and early September with a mean annual rainfall of about 400–650 mm. The park is home to many ungulates, predators, and other wild animal species. The presence of some mega wild animals such as the African elephant, roan antelope, and the cranes (which use the area as a wintering site), and other migratory birds make the park, and its environs a significant site for national and international tourists. Other mammals such as greater kudus and bohor reedbucks are relatively common. The avifauna of the park is rather immense. As a result, the park is registered as one of the 73 important bird areas in Ethiopia. The brown-headed parrot, Parakeet, little green bee-eater, and demoiselle crane are of the few most attractive bird species of the park [11].

Figure 1: Map showing the location of Kafta Sheraro National Park.

2.2. Data Collection

Before collecting the actual data, pilot survey was conducted in the study area in order to have baseline information on the ecology, threats, and bird species of the national park and to decide on the survey design and sampling strategy.

Data collection was carried out from August 2017 to March 2018. Field survey was conducted to study the avian species composition and diversity. A stratified random sampling technique based on the habitat type was used for selecting the actual sites for sampling using point count [12]. The sampling unit within the habitat was determined and assigned on the basis of the area coverage and vegetation type. Bird species were observed using naked eyes and field binoculars for better identification [13]. GPS was used to locate the points for the bird-counting methods. Birds were surveyed using point count technique which is a systematic search over a fixed area and/or for a fixed time (5 minutes). This allows the observer to record all the bird species around. Point counts (point transects) are an efficient and inexpensive survey method for determining avian species composition and abundance [14]. A total of sixty point count stations with 30 m fixed radius apart were established systematically. Observations were made by standing in a series of point count stations and observing 360° round and gently up to 30 m radius distance. The point count stations were 300 m apart to avoid error of double counting [15]. To minimize disturbance during count, a waiting period of 3 to 5 minutes prior to counting was applied. Bird species were identified and enumerated twice a day that is in the early morning (8:30–11:30 hr) and in the late afternoon (9:30–11:30 hr) where bird activity was maximum and on days with good weather conditions [16]. Surveys were conducted on foot.

Photographs and videos were captured to count too many birds that were difficult to identify during the field. Bird calls were recorded whenever possible using a tape recorder. Colored field guides such as [17–19] were used for identification and categorization of birds to their respective taxonomic groups. The experiences of park experts were also used in the identification of birds based on different morphological features such as plumage pattern, size, shapes, colour, songs, and calls. Observed species were identified and recorded on the data sheet prepared for that purpose. Observation and discussion with nearby villagers and scouts were made to assess potential threats of the avifauna in the park. The current human activities including livestock incursion, habitat exploitation, and wildlife utilization were closely examined along with the field survey.

2.2.1. Data Analysis

The species diversity of the area was analyzed using Shannon diversity index [20] as follows:

where H′ = the Shannon diversity index; Pi = fraction of the entire population made up of species I; S = numbers of species encountered; ∑ = sum from species 1 to species S; and ln = natural logarithm.

Species richness (S) was calculated by

where n is the number of species in a community.

Species evenness, which measures the pattern of distribution of the bird populations present in the area, was evaluated using Shannon–Wiener evenness index (E) as follows [21]:

where E = Shannon–Wiener evenness index; H′ = Shannon–Wiener diversity index; and Hmax = lnS = natural logarithm of the total number of species (S).

Data collected during the study period were analyzed using SPSS software package version 20. Chi-square test was used to test difference of species richness among the study months. Moreover, the collected data were analyzed and interpreted through tabulation and percentage.

3. Results

3.1. Species Composition

A total of 158 bird species belonging to 52 different families and 20 orders were identified during the surveys. Of the identified bird species, family Accipitiridae 18 (11.4%) had the highest species followed by Columbidae, Estrilidae, and Ploceidae with 11 (7%), 9 (5.7%), and 7 (4.4%) number of species, respectively. The lowest number of species was recorded from families Anatidae, Apodidae, Bucorvidae, Burhinidae, Phoeniculidae, Upupidae, Pluvianidae, Numididae, Phasianidae, Leiothrichidae, Monarchidae, Prionopidae, Pycnonotidae, Scopidae, Indicatoridae, Picidae, Strigidae, and Tytonidae with one species each (Table 1). Among the recorded species, 25 (15.8%), 9 (5.7%), and 3 (1.9%) were Palaearctic migrants (PM), Intra-African migrants (IM), and partial migrants, respectively. The remaining 121 (76.6%) bird species were residents. KSNP is a home to many attractive avian species. A few of them are put in Figure 2.

Table 1: List of bird species recorded in Kafta Sheraro National Park.

Order
Family
Common name
Scientific name
IUCN status

Accipitroformes
Accipitiridae
Brown snake eagle
Circaetus cinereus
LC

African fish eagle
Haliaeetus vocifer
LC

Long-crested eagle
Laphaetus occipitalis
LC

Gabar goshawk
Micronisus gabar
LC

Black kite
Milvus migrans
LC

Black-shouldered kite
Elanus caeruleus
LC

Lappet-faced vulture
Torgos tracheliotos
EN

Hooded vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
CR

African white-backed vulture
Gyps africanus
CR

Long-legged buzzard♠
Buteo rufinus
LC

Dark chanting goshawk
Melierax metabates
LC

Long-crested eagle
Lophaetus occipitalis
LC

Tawny eagle
Aquila rapax
VU

Bateleur
Terathopius ecaudatus
NT

Steppe eagle♠
Aquila nipalensis
EN

Common buzzard♠
Buteo buteo
LC

African cuckoo hawk
Aviceda cuculoides
LC

African harrier hawk
Polyboroidees typus
LC

Anseriformes
Anatidae
Egyptian goose
Alopochen aegyptiaca
LC

Apodiformes
Apodidae
Africa palm swift
Cypsiurus parvus
LC

Bucerotiformes
Bucerotidae
African grey hornbill
Lophoceros nasutus
LC

Northern red-billed hornbill
Tockus erythrorhynchus
LC

Hemprich’s hornbill
Lophoceros hemprichii
LC

Bucorvidae
Abyssinian ground hornbill
Bucorvus abyssinicus
VU

Phoeniculidae
Black-billied wood hoopoe
Phoeniculus somaliensis
LC

Upupidae
Eurasian hoopoe
Upupa epops
LC

Caprimulgiformes
Caprimulgidae
Egyptian nightjar♠
Caprimulgus aegyptius
LC

Long-tailed nightjar
Caprimulgus climacurus
LC

Charadriiformes
Burhinidae
Senegal thick-knee
Burhinus senegalensis
LC

Charadriidae
Three-banded plover
Charadrius tricollaris
LC

Spur winged lapwing
Vanellus spinosus
LC

Little-ringed plover♠
Charadrius dubius
LC

Black-headed plover
Vanellus tectus
LC

Pluvianidae
Egyptian plover
Pluvianus aegyptius
LC

Scolopacidae
Common sandpiper♠
Actitis hypoleucos
LC

Wood sandpiper♠
Tringa glareola
LC

Common greenshank♠
Tringa nebularia
LC

Ciconiiformes
Ciconiidae
Abdim’s stork
Ciconia abdimii
LC

Woolly-necked stork
Ciconia episcopus
VU

Yellow-billed stork
Mycteria ibis
LC

White stork♠
Ciconia ciconia
LC

Coliiformes
Coliidae
Speckled mousebird
Colius stariatus
LC

Blue-naped mousebird
Urocolius macrourus
LC

Columbiformes
Columbidae
Laughing dove
Stigmatopelia senegalensis
LC

Ring naked dove
Streptopelia capicola
LC

Vinaceous dove
Streptopelia vinacea
LC

Black-billed wood-dove♥
Turtur abyssinicus
LC

Red-eyed dove
Streptopelia semitorquata
LC

Namaqua dove
Oena capensis
LC

African mourning dove♥
Streptopelia decipiens
LC

African collared-dove
Streptopelia roseogrisea
LC

Emerald-spotted wood dove
Turtur chalcospilos
LC

Bruce’s green pigeon
Treron waalia
LC

Speckled pigeon
Columba guinea
LC

Coraciiformes
Alcedinidae
Giant kingfisher
Megaceryle maxima
LC

Pied kingfisher
Ceryle rudis
LC

Pygmy kingfisher
Ispidina picta
LC

Mangrove kingfisher♥
Halcyon senegaloides
LC

Malachite kingfisher
Corythornis cristatus
LC

Coraciidae
Abyssinian roller
Coracias abyssinicus
LC

Purple roller
Coracias naevius
LC

Meropidae
Blue-breasted Bee-eater
Merops variegates
LC

Blue cheeked bee-eater♠
Merops persicus
LC

Little bee-eater
Merops pusillus
LC

White-throated bee-eater
Merops albicollis
LC

Little green bee-eater
Merops orientalis
LC

Northern carmine bee-eater
Merops nubicus
LC

Cuculiformes
Cuculidae
White-browed coucal
Centropus superciliosus
LC

Blue-headed coucal
Centropus monachus
LC

Falconiformes
Falconidae
Common kestrel♠
Falco tinnunculus
LC

Grey kestrel
Falco ardosiaceus
LC

Peregrine falcon♠
Falco peregrinus
LC

Gruiformes
Gruidae
Common crane♠
Grus grus
LC

Demoiselle crane♠
Anthropoides virgo
LC

Galliformes
Numididae
Helmeted guineafowl
Numida meleagris
LC

Phasianidae
Clapperton’s francolin
Pternistis clappertoni
LC

Passeriformes
Acrocephalidae
African yellow warbler
Iduna natalensis
LC

Eastern olivaceous warbler♠
Iduna pallida
LC

Alaudidae
Thekla lark
Galerida theklae
LC

Rufous rumped lark
Pinarocorys erythropygia
LC

Black crowned sparrow lark
Eremopterix nigriceps
LC

Buphagidae
Red-billed oxpecker
Buphagus erythrorhynchus
LC

Yellow-billed oxpecker
Buphagus africanus
LC

Emberizidae
Cinnamon breasted bunting
Emberiza tahapisi
LC

Golden breasted bunting
Emberiza flaviventris
LC

Estrildidae
Red-billed firefinch
Lagonosticta senegala
LC

Red-cheeked cordonbleu
Uraeginthus bengalus
LC

Southern cordonbleu
Uraeginthus angolensis
LC

Yellow-billed waxbill
Coccopygia quartinia
LC

Fawn-breasted waxbill
Estrilda paludicola
LC

Common waxbill
Estrilda astrild
LC

Bronze mannikin
Lonchura cucullata
LC

African silver bill
Eudica cantans
LC

Black-rumped waxbill
Estrildida troglodytes
LC

Hirundinidae
Ethiopian swallow
Hirundo aethiopica
LC

Wire-tailed swallow
Hirundi smithii
LC

Laniidae
Lesser grey shrike♠
Lanius minor
LC

Red-backed shrike♠
Lanius collurio
LC

Woodchat shrike♠
Lanius senator
LC

Masked shrike♠
Lanius nubicus
LC

Leiothrichidae
White-headed babbler
Turdoides leucocephala
LC

Malaconotidae
Black-headed gonolek
Laniarius erythrogaster
LC

Northern puffback
Dryoscopus gambensis
LC

Ethiopian boubou
Laniarius aethiopicus
LC

Monarchidae
African paradise flycatcher
Terpsiphone viridis
LC

Motacillidae
Western yellow wagtail♠
Motacilla flava
LC

White wagtail♠
Motacilla alba
LC

African pied wagtail
Motacilla aguimp
LC

Muscicapidae
Common rock thrush♠
Monticola saxatilis
LC

Black scrub robin
Cercotrichas podobe
LC

Northern wheatear♠
Oenanthe oenanthe
LC

Pied wheatear♠
Oenanthe pleschanka
LC

Mocking cliff chat
Thamnolaea cinamomeiventris
LC

Nectariniidae
Scarlet-chested sunbird
Chalcomaitra senegalensis
LC

Mariqua sunbird
Cinnyris mariquiensis
LC

Malachite sunbird
Nectarinia famosa
LC

Shining sunbird
Cinnyris habessinicus
LC

Black-billed sunbird
Cinnyris nectarinioides
LC

Passeridae
Northern grey-headed sparrow
Passer griseus
LC

Shelley’s rufous sparrow
Passer shelleyi
LC

Ploceidae
Black-headed weaver
Ploceus melanocephalus
LC

Northern-red bishop
Euplectes nigroventris
LC

Little weaver
Ploceus luteolus
LC

Speckle-fronted weaver
Sporopipes frontalis
LC

White-billed buffalo weaver
Bubalornis albirostris
LC

Village weaver
Ploceus cucullatus
LC

Red-headed quelea
Quelea erythrops
LC

Prionopidae
White-crested helmet shrike
Prionops plumatus
LC

Pycnonotidae
Common bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
LC

Sturnidae
Ruppell’s long-tailed starling
Lamprotornis purpuroptera
LC

Stuhlmann’s starling
Poeoptera stuhlmanni
LC

Greater blue-eared starling
Lamprotornis chalybaeus
LC

Lesser blue-eared starling
Lamprotornis chloropterus
LC

Red-winged starling
Onychognatus morio
LC

Chestnut-bellied starling
Lamprotornis pulcher
LC

Viduidae
Village indigobird
Vidua chalybeate
LC

Sahel paradise whydah
Vidua orientalis
LC

Eastern paradise whydah
Vidua paradisaea
LC

Pin-tailed whydah
Vidua macroura
LC

Pelecaniformes
Ardeidae
Grey heron♠
Ardea cinerea
LC

Cattle egret
Bubulcus ibis
LC

Little egret
Egretta garzetta
LC

Black-headed heron
Ardea melanocephala
LC

Threkiornithidae
Glossy ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
LC

Sacred ibis
Threskiornis aethiopicus
LC

African spoonbill
Platalea alba
LC

Scopidae
Hamerkop
Scopus umbretta
LC

Piciformes
Indicatoridae
Greater honeyguide
Indicator indicator
LC

Picidae
Nubian woodpecker
Campethera nubica
LC

Lybiidae
Black-billed barbet
Lybius guifsobalito
LC

Yellow-breasted barbet
Trachyphonus margaritatus
LC

Psittaciformes
Psittacidae
Rose-ringed parakeet
Psittacula krameri
LC

Meyer’s parrot
Poicephalus meyeri
LC

Pterocliformes
Pteroclidae
Lichtenstein’s sandgrouse
Pterocles lichtensteinii
LC

Four-banded sandgrouse
Pterocles quadricinctus
LC

Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse
Pterocles exustus
LC

Strigiformes
Strigidae
African scopes owl
Otus senegalensis
LC

Tytonidae
Barn owl
Tyto alba
LC

Note. ♠ = Palaearctic migrant,  = Intra-African migrant, ♥ = partial migrant, unmarked species are resident birds, LC = least concern, NT = near threatened, VU = vulnerable, EN = endangered, and CR = critically endangered.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

Figure 2: Few attractive bird species located in KSNP. (a) Pluvianus aegyptius. (b) Pterocles lichtensteinii. (c) Burhinus senegalensis. (d) Micronisus gabar. (e) Bubulcus ibis. (f) Ciconia episcopus.

3.2. Species Diversity, Species Richness, and Species Evenness

The Shannon–Weiner diversity index indicated that the highest diversity of birds (H′ = 4.50) was recorded during February, and the lowest diversity (H′ = 2.18) was recorded during March. Similarly, the highest even distribution of birds was observed during February (E = 0.98), but the lowest was during March (E = 0.46). The majority of species was recorded during January with 131 (83%) species followed by March 108 (68%) and October 92 (58%) (Table 2). Species richness of the park showed no significant difference between the study months (χ² = 10.046, df = 5, ). The wet season diversity index (H′ = 4.6) was higher than that of the dry season (H′ = 3.2). Evenness index was also higher during the wet season (E = 0.94) than the dry season (E = 0.64) (Figure 3).

Table 2: Species richness, species evenness, and species diversity among the study months.

Months
Species richness
H′
H′max
E

August
97
4.05
4.57
0.88

September
100
3.74
4.60
0.81

October
92
3.47
4.52
0.76

January
131
4.15
4.87
0.85

February
96
4.50
4.56
0.98

March
108
2.18
4.68
0.46

Figure 3: Seasonal diversity and evenness index of bird species.

4. Discussion

The result of the current study showed that Kafta Sheraro National Park harbored high diversity (H′ = 2.18 up to 4.50) and species composition (158 species) because of the ideal habitat condition of the study area for avifauna. This could be due to various vegetation types and weather conditions of the park and location of the Tekeze River along the park. This may provide foraging, breeding, nesting, and other survival opportunities for both aquatic and terrestrial bird species. Moreover, the highest diversity and species composition of avifauna in the park might be due to the situation in which both aquatic and terrestrial bird species inhabit because Tekeze River bounds all parts of the park. This situation may create the park to have high number of aquatic bird species in addition to terrestrial bird species. This study showed that species composition of Kafta Sheraro National Park is highest as compared with other similar studies conducted in other parts of Ethiopia [22–25]. Changes in vegetation composition and structure of habitat complexity and suitability, a change over the time, affect bird species composition [26]. Kafta Sheraro National Park is a home for 15.8%, 5.7%, and 1.9% Palaearctic migrants (PM), Intra-African migrants (IM), and partial migrants, respectively. This revealed that the park is very important for migratory bird species in addition to sedentary birds.

Higher diversity of index was recorded during February (H′ = 4.50) followed by January (H′ = 4.15) and August (H′ = 4.05) while the lowest diversity index was recorded during March and October with (H′ = 2.18 and H′ = 3.47), respectively. This showed that both species richness and evenness were high during February, January, and August. In ecological studies, the Shannon–Weiner diversity index is greater than 4 as both the richness and the evenness of the community have increased [27]. The difference in avian diversity among the study months might be associated with the availability of the food source among the months and the effect of migratory bird species. The availability of resources, especially plenty food supply, may increase the diversity of avian species at a given area [24]. The highest and lowest number of species (S) was recorded during January and October with 83% and 68% species, respectively. The high number of bird richness in January may be due to the migratory birds which migrate to the park from different directions of the globe. Bird species are migrating to Kafta Sheraro National Park for feeding during the winter. The researchers observed that there were migratory birds that arrive in the park starting from January and leave at the end of April. The lowest number of bird species during October might be due to temporary migration of bird species from the park to the nearest agricultural fields that provide alternative temporary seasonal foraging and nesting opportunities to the birds. This could decrease their abundance in their natural habitat [15]. The diversity index result showed that the species diversity during the wet season was higher than the dry season. This might be due to the presence of food sources in the park. During the wet season, the productivity and yield of habitat increase as many of the invertebrates breed and the vegetation becomes more productive on which the birds depend, and as a result, the diversity increases.

The result of this study also showed that the park faced with five major threats such as expansion of agriculture, fire, grazing, mining, and hunting. Expansion of agricultural fields in and in close of vicinity of the park was causing much severe to avifauna by creating disturbances. Moreover, irrigation was the main farming activity along the edge of Tekeze River. These agricultural activities absolutely had an impact on the habitat of the bird species. A study conducted on human wildlife conflict witnessed that fire, cutting trees, poaching, and farmland were the main anthropogenic impacts for biodiversity of Kafta Sheraro National Park [28]. Similar challenges were reported in other study area which is in Awash National Park [29]. Fire was a common threat of Kafta Sheraro National Park that affects feeding and resting places or times of bird species. The scouts revealed that fire in the national park was caused by people who pick up minerals illegally from the park. Wildfire is becoming a very serious problem in Kafta Sheraro National Park, destroying thousands of hectares of the park each year [30]. The local communities brought their cattle into the national park for searching of grazing land and water especially during the dry season. This created interruption in activities of the birds. Mining activity in the park also affected bird species negatively by destructing their habitat. Illegal gold mining was challenging in Kafta Sheraro National Park. Habitat disturbances by humans have varying effects on the bird species richness and diversity. As human pressure increases, the quality of the forests to harbor different bird species reduces [31]. Habitat disturbance negatively affects avian diversity and abundance [26]. As the discussion made with the local people who were living near the park forwarded, the local community developed a negative attitude towards the establishment of the park. This is because of the fact that they believe that the area is core for agriculture, irrigation, livestock grazing, and mining. Therefore, they believe that the park is going to make them lose these things.

5. Bird Species of Conservation Concern

In the current study, seven globally threatened bird species were recorded in the park. Hooded vulture (CR), African white-backed vulture (CR), lappet-faced vulture (EN), steppe eagle (EN), tawny eagle (VU), Abyssinian ground hornbill (VU), and woolly-necked stork (VU) were bird species of conservation concern in this study area. These bird species were suffered as a result of destruction of their habitat, breeding site, and food source due to anthropogenic activities including agricultural expansion, fire, mining, and grazing. It is therefore very important to take measures toward conserving the threatened bird species.

5.1. Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)

Hooded vulture is native to sub-Saharan Africa. A study indicated that the population is extremely rapid declining due to poisoning, trade for traditional medicine, hunting, persecution, and electrocution, habitat loss, and degradation [32]. Other study conducted in Dakar, Senegal, indicated that hooded vulture has been declining due to exponential urbanization resulting in loss of feeding sites and reduced food availability, increased poisoning of feral dogs with strychnine sulphate due to an upsurge of rabies, and increased disappearance of suitable trees for nesting and roosting [33]. In the current study area, habitat loss and degradation were the main threats for the bird species.

5.2. African White-Backed Vulture (Gyps africanus)

The African white-backed vulture is widespread across the savannahs of Africa occurring from South Africa north to Ethiopia and west to Senegal. This species has declined severely in parts of its range. Habitat loss, hunting for trade, persecution, collisions, and poisoning were the main threats of this species. These declines are likely to continue into the future [34].

5.3. Lappet-Faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos)

The total population of lappet-faced vulture is estimated to be declining at a very rapid rate. According to Ogada et al. [35], the population of lappet-faced vulture in Africa was declining by 80% over three generations. The species are at high risk due to pesticides and poisoning. Lappet-faced vulture is regionally extinct from North Africa, Israel, Jordan, and Palestinian territory [36].

5.4. Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)

As steppe eagle is a long-distance migrant bird, it exposed to varying levels of environmental and anthropic pressures such as drought, habitat destruction, or illegal hunting. Habitat loss, human persecution, and electrocution on power lines are also potential threats of the species throughout its range. Its current population status is extremely declining [37].

5.5. Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)

Although Aquila rapax is a widespread raptor occurring over large areas of sub-Saharan Africa, with isolated populations in North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, the species is rapid declining from across its African range including the current study area. In this study, habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion, fire, and mining was the main threat for the bird species.

5.6. Abyssinian Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus abyssinicus)

The Abyssinian ground hornbill ranges through sub-Saharan African savannahs north of the equator. Even though determining conservation status of this species is very difficult due to the lack of research, this species is suspected to be declining rapidly as a result of habitat loss and degradation and hunting for traditional medicine [32].

5.7. Woolly-Necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus)

This species is undergoing a rapid population decline mainly due to pollution, habitat loss, and persecution. Its population status in the current study was also observed in few individuals.

6. Conclusion

The result of this project showed that Kafta Sheraro National Park is one of the areas which has high avian diversity in Ethiopia. Hence, it is concluded that the park has a good potential for ornithological tourism that can integrate economic gain with biodiversity conservation. Specific conclusion on the diversity and composition of bird species might not be possible due to lack of published data that describe bird species prior to the current study in the park. Based on direct observation and discussion made with local communities and scouts, fire, agricultural activity, mining, grazing, and hunting were the major threats that affected bird species diversity and abundance in the park. The current study also identified that the local community developed a negative attitude toward the park.

As the park harbors high number of attractive bird species, ecotourism of the park through wildlife watching in general and ornithological tourism in particular should be developed by collaborating with stakeholders. The number of bird species recorded in this study may not represent all the bird species that are present in Kafta Sheraro National Park. Therefore, exhaustive survey should have been made in all the habitats by increasing the length of the study period and the sampling area. Continuous efforts should also be made on minimizing the anthropogenic disturbances by controlling the activities that take place inside the national park such as fire, deforestation for agricultural activities, and mining. Organization of awareness creation programmes for the local community may also help to develop a positive attitude towards the park to reduce the potential threats on avifauna.

Data Availability

The data used to support the findings of this research are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Authors’ Contributions

The corresponding author, TG, had taken responsibilities of the proposal drafting, data collection, and writing up of the manuscript. The other authors participated in data collection, data analysis, identifying of bird species, and commenting on the proposal and manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the office of Kafta Sheraro National Park for permitting them the vehicle. They also thank all staffs of Kafta Sheraro National Park for creating a homely working environment and their unlimited friendly relationship during the field investigations they had in the park. Adigrat University provided the fund of this research for the data collection with registration number (AGU/CNCS/018/09).

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