Gobal Advanced Research Journal of Environmental Science and Toxicology (GARJEST) ISSN: 2315-5140
December 2012 Vol. 1(9), pp. 215-225
Copyright © 2012 Global Advanced Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Study on birds communities occurring at habitats adjacent to sewage water in Jeddah province during autumn and spring seasons

Abdullah J. AL-Ghamdi

Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science King AbdulAziz University, 80203 Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.

E-mail: aalghamdi1@yahoo.com

Accepted December 12, 2012

Abstract

A study was conducted to monitor and record bird communities in the sewage water discharging sites dominated by water lakes   in the eastern section of Jeddah during autumn and spring seasons of the year 2003. Birds species were monitored in regular visits 2 days every week, recording their presence, their individual numbers, and observing any other biological features e.g. presence of nests and the like. A total of 63 bird species were recorded in the site during autumn months and 62 bird species were recorded during spring season. Twenty six species were resident in the site during both season’s winter and summer, while 36 species migrate away from the site during summer months. On the other hand only 8 bird species left the site and migrated away during winter season. The bird recorded with the highest number during winter were Rappels Weaver with 333 birds, Black Winged Stilt with 236 birds, House Sparrow with 180 birds, Olivaceous Warbler with 119 birds and Pallid Swift with 101 birds. Winter season dominated summer season by the presence of significantly higher number of bird species, and this is probably due to the rise in temperature during summer months. It seems that some species are affected by high temperature so they migrate away from the site during summer.

Keywords: Birds communities, Sewage water, Seasons, Jeddah.