DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF WATERBIRDS IN MAEKEL ZONE, ERITREA, NORTH EAST AFRICA.

Permanent water bodies as well as naturally and artificially made wetlands are important for wildlife, because they provide a large variety of both food and breeding sites and improves survival during the non-breeding season. There is also a growing insight that even the smallest dams could be important, particularly for smaller species such as birds. Moreover, access to wetlands on the route to wintering or breeding areas is crucial that the migrants require a continuous input of energy during the, sometimes, very long journey. Such networks of wetlands are, in particular, important for birds because they perform long distance migrations. It is, therefore, not surprising that a priority of the international conservation agenda is to increase the protection of water bodies and wetlands. Eritrea is geographically very important as a migration route and stop-over location for many species of Palearctic migrants, including waterbirds. The study was carried out in Maekel Zone from November 2013 to March 2014, with the primary objective to evaluate species composition, relative abundance and distribution of waterbirds. Nine sites (dams) were selected for this study based on water holding capacity, vegetation complexity and previous birding history. Whole area search technique was employed through ground count. A total of 38 waterbird species were identified. The difference in species composition of birds among sites was significant. Sembel dam had the highest species diversity and evenness although the total count was low. Mai-Serwa dam, on the other hand, hosts few species only, but in dominant number. It has been noticed that bird’s diversity and relative abundance was strongly influenced by the topography and productivity of the dams. Moreover, an important difference between the habitats in food production and the overall capacity to support necessary ecological needs is another factor. Although the relative abundance score of species was variable, the input that water birds are getting from the water bodies, in combination to surrounding irrigated farmlands, is undeniable. Unlimited human actions, sedimentation and pollution are the main threats to the survival of birds. For complete waterbird checklist of the region a comprehensive survey was conducted by using more precise mechanisms to measure bird’s diversity in the region.