Status and Habitat Occupancy of Nepal's only Endemic Bird Spiny Babbler
Turdoides nipalensis in Lwang Ghalel Village of Mid-hills of Nepal
Abstract
Spiny Babbler is the only endemic bird of Nepal but there are very
limited studies on population status, distribution pattern and habitat
characteristics preferred by this species. So, we conducted a field
survey in the Lwang Ghalel Village of Annapurna Conservation Area
located in Western Nepal which is one of the prominent habitats of Spiny
Babbler to estimate the population, prepare a distribution map and
assess the habitat characteristics preferred by it. We used the point
count method to estimate its population while the distribution map was
prepared using Arcmap; a GIS software, by plotting the geographic
coordinates taken with hand held GPS. A binomial distribution model with
a logit link function was deployed to determine the habitat preferences
of the species by testing nine predetermined habitat variables. Out of
130 sampling points, Spiny Babbler was recorded from 46 points with an
additional 6 opportunistic sightings resulting total estimated
population of 129 individuals. From the distribution map, we found that
it mostly preferred scrubland habitats. Among the nine habitat
variables, six different variables including aspect (χ27,119 = 21.7895;
p = 0.0027), habitat types (χ25,114 = 18.7608; p = 0.0021), number of
shrub individuals (χ21,113 = 7.0083; p = 0.0081), distance to water body
(χ21,128 = 9.4116; p = 0.0021), distance to road (χ21,127 = 6.4807; p =
0.0109) and presence or absence of cattle grazing (χ21,126 = 10.0881; p
= 0.0014) have significant influence in the sighting probability of the
species within the study area. With this study, we have established
baseline information about the habitat preference of Spiny Babbler
however there is still large gap to be fulfilled to understand the
species ecology. Therefore, detailed and regular studies on the species
behavior and ecology of all seasons should be carried out in the study
area and other regions.