Bird Communities in Rice Field and Grasslands during the Dry Season in the Mekong Delta, Cambodia

Abstract

We studied bird communities among in rice field (46 plots), short grallland (47plot), and tall grass mixed shrub (21 plots) during dry season, January 2007 in Boeung Prek Lapouv (BPL) Important Bird Area, Mekong Delta, Cambodia using the point-count method. Water depth, vegetation height and shrub density were significantly different among the three study areas. We recorded, 60 bird species, of which 13 differed significantly among habitats. Landbirds such as Grey-breasted Prinia (Prinia hodgsonii) and Oliver-black Sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis) were much more abundant (P<0.0001) in the tall grass mixed shrub, whereas the Sarus Crane (Grus antigone), herons and egrets were more abundant in the short grass (P < 0.05). Bird species richness and species abundances were not significantly different among habitats. Bird species diversity (H’) was higher in grasslands than in rice fields. Mosaic habitat matrix, such as rice field, short grass, and tall grass mixed shrub, should be maintained for the extend and quality of wetlands, and the prevailing human-land use patterns, appear adequate and conductive for waterbirds in the Mekong Delta, Cambodia.