%0 Journal Article
%T Diversity and Distribution of Avian Fauna of Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
%A Amir Jan Pathan
%A Shahroz Khan
%A Naveed Akhtar
%A Kausar Saeed
%J Advances in Zoology
%D 2014
%R 10.1155/2014/430297
%X This survey was conducted from January 2013 to December 2013 to explore the avian fauna of Swat valley and to find out the major threats to the avian fauna of the area as it was neglected for years. Direct and indirect methods were used in the study by visiting the field and by interviewing the local peoples and hunters about the current and past status of the avian fauna of the area. During the current study direct and indirect methods were used. A total of 138 species were recorded belonging to 13 orders and 48 families. The order Passeriformes were recorded much in number that were 31 species. Most of the birds were migratory and few were resident. The fauna was very rich due to the flora of the area and also due to less hunting. Orders Anseriformes, Apodiformes, Charadriiformes, Columbiformes, Pelecaniformes, Phoenicopteriformes, and Psittaciformes were found migratory and orders Ciconiiformes, Coraciiformes, Galliformes, and Piciformes were found resident while some members of Gruiformes and Passeriformes were found migratory and some resident. 1. Introduction Birds are one of the most popular life forms on the planet, and their diversity leads to a richness of life and beauty. Apart from this, birds have always fascinated mankind with their intrinsically beautiful plumage, melodious songs, and artistic behavior. There are around 9000 species of birds living in the world today, with a tremendous diversity of life style. Besides this, birds are valuable for many aspects; that is, they are a sensitive indicator of pollution and also play great role in pest control. The bird species are friends of farmers who believe that bird consumes large numbers of harmful insects, as well as their eggs and larvae, which serves as a biological control agent of insect pests in Pakistan [1, 2]. Birds are of great economic importance to the human society. They play an important role in controlling population of different insects and pests. They play the role of scavengers and pollinating agents and also help in the dispersal of seeds of vegetation. They are helpful and help to provide rich food for mankind and are known to man since ages [3]. Wildlife management and conservation initiatives are only possible with the appropriate information on wildlife and its habitat [4]. Wildlife habitat basically comprises food, cover, and water. Each species requires a particular habitat or the space, food, shelter, and other needs of survival so much so that species are said to be the product of their habitat [5]. With regard to birds, the total number of birds species in the
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/az/2014/430297/