Tribhuvan University area serves as a greenspace for birds in the Kathmandu Valley, Central Nepal

The Kathmandu Valley, encompassing the capital city of Nepal, is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the South Asia. Rapid population growth and urbanization in Kathmandu have degraded the urban environment affecting the native biota. Therefore, a detailed assessment of bird richness and its distribution in potential green spaces of the Kathmandu Valley is essential. We assessed the avian diversity in different habitats of the Tribhuvan University area (۱.۵۷ km²), a potential refuge for birds in the urban landscape by point count method for the winter and the summer seasons of ۲۰۲۰. A total of ۷۱ bird species of ۳۹ genera from ۳۲ families under ۱۰ orders ‘including the globally endangered Steppe eagles (Aquila nipalensis)’ were recorded. Among the ۱۰ orders, Passeriformes (۴۴ species), had the highest richness followed by Columbiformes, Piciformes and Cuculiformes (۴ species in each). Among the feeding guilds insectivorous guild (۲۸ species) had the highest species richness followed by omnivores and carnivores. Higher Shannon’s diversity index was recorded in forest habitats (۳.۵۱) than building area (۳.۴۵) and farmland (۳.۴۲). Despite its small size, our study has shown that the Tribhuvan University area is an important greenspace for birds in the Kathmandu Valley. An extensive exploration, monitoring and management of greenspaces are crucial for maintaining the ecological integrity of the urban landscape of the Kathmandu Valley.

Keywords:

Avian fauna , Kirtipur , greenspace , Passeriformes , urbanization