Bird Diversity in Yangoupokpi-Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary, Manipur North-East India

Yangoupokpi Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary (YLWLS) in Manipur, India, stands as a vital sanctuary among the nine recognized conservation sites in Manipur, designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA). The sanctuary is situated in the Tengnoupal District of Manipur, North East India, alongside the Indo-Myanmar border within the mega-biodiversity hotspot. From January to May 2020, an extensive study was conducted with the prime objective to determine the species diversity and population density across different habitats within the sanctuary. The point count distance sampling method was meticulously employed to comprehensively assess bird species density and richness in different habitats such as settlements, agriculture fields, forests, bamboo forests, riparian forests, and shrublands present within the sanctuary's precincts. A comprehensive count revealed a total of 103 bird species spanning across 38 families, with a striking tally of 1292 individual birds meticulously documented across 117 sampling sites. The order Passeriformes emerged as the dominant category, boasting 70 species, while the order Gruiformes exhibited the lowest representation with a mere single species. Notably, the forest emerged as the primary habitat nurturing a diverse range of avian inhabitants, accommodating 96 distinct bird species. In close succession, bamboo forests, settlements, riparian forests, shrublands, and agriculture fields hosted 43, 37, 25, 23, and 13 species, respectively, underscoring the diverse microcosm thriving within the sanctuary's confines. Furthermore, the study highlighted the vital role of habitat conditions in shaping the richness, quantity, variety, and distribution of bird species within the sanctuary, emphasizing the nuanced interplay between avian communities and their habitats.