Species Composition of Birds at Tham Nam Lod Wildlife Conservation Development and Extension Center, Mae Hong Son Province

ABSTRACT: A study of the species composition of the bird community was carried out at Tham Nam Lod Wildlife Conservation Development and Extension Center, Mae Hong Son province from September 1999 to August 2000. The types of forest in this limestone area were mixed deciduous forest, dry dipterocarp forest and hill evergreen forest; altitude 620 meters above sea level; coordinates 19° 34' N and 98° 17' E. Three areas were selected to represent different degrees of disturbances: office station, Nam Lod cave and wet lick. Line transects and fix radius counts were used, to determine the abundance and distribution of bird species. One hundred and sixty-three species of birds were recorded from 39 families: 131 residents and 32 migratory. At the office station, 74 bird species were observed, 110 species at Nam Lod cave and 129 species at the wet lick. Frugivores were represented by 51 species from 17 families. Black-crested bulbul (Pycnonotus melanicterus) was the dominant species at the office station and Nam Lod cave, but thick-billed pigeon (Treron curvirostra) was dominant at the wet lick. In addition, hundreds thousands of pacific swifts (Apus pacificus) nested in Nam Lod cave. Fifty-five species of food plants from 27 families were recorded. The birds fed on fruits, flowers and nectar. Small and soft fruits were readily consumed, especially the genus Ficus. Forest type and distribution of food plants, season and human disturbance had effects on the distribution of birds.