Int. J. Biosci.

2012

International Journal of Biosciences (IJB)

ISSN: 2220-6655 (Print) 2222-5234 (Online)
Vol. 2, No. 5, p. 1-11, 2012
http://www.innspub.net

RESEARCH PAPER OPEN ACCESS

Species composition and distribution of birds in Aburi Botanic

Garden, Ghana
Edward D. Wiafe1*, Esther Chaachele Faalong2
Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, Presbyterian University College, P. O. Box 393,
1

Akropong-Akuapem, Ghana
Department of Agric Economics, Agribusiness & Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Kwame Nkrumah
2

University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Received: 11 April 2012
Revised: 23 April 2012
Accepted: 25 April 2012

Key words: Botanic garden, bird survey, Ghana, species composition.

Abstract

Traditionally, botanic gardens have been set aside to conserve mainly trees, but it has additional contributions to
harbor birds and other faunal species. Conservationist have neglected the animal component of the botanic gardens,
it is against this background that this study sought to investigate into the bird species composition, abundance, and
their distribution in the Aburi Botanical Garden, Ghana. The garden was stratified into Botanic Reserve (closed
forest) and Cultivated Area (open forest), and a total five transects were distributed in each area. Bird census was
carried out along these transect between the hours of 6am to 10am and 4pm to 6pm each day for three days The
Botanic Reserve constituted more species with fewer individuals whereas the Cultivated Area had more individuals
with fewer species. Food and light penetration were the main determining factors in the distribution and abundance
of birds in the Botanic Gardens. The distribution of birds and their abundance were suspected to be influenced by the
habitat type and the kind of resources it avails.The bird species dominant in the area are generalist species with only a
small fraction being specialist species. It is therefore recommended that policies of the Botanic Gardens should
include the protection of birds and other faunal species because of their interdependent relationship.
*Corresponding Author: Edward D. Wiafe  [email protected]

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 Int. J. Biosci. 2012

Introduction The issue of resource conservation has grown along

Land-use change is a key driver of current and future with human population growth and as such, numerous
biodiversity change in the tropics, and conversion of attempts and measures have been put in place to
native forests to pastures, croplands, botanical gardens conserve the world’s biodiversity. These measures
and other human-dominated habitats is the primary include laws and policies and the creation of conducive
cause of biodiversity loss (Luck and Daily,2008; Sala et environment to support the regeneration of species of
al., 2000).The accelerating extinction of species is the conservation interest. This may take the form of
tip of the iceberg of global wildlife declines that establishment of Game, Resource and Strict Nature
threaten to disrupt vital ecosystem processes and reserves, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Zoos
services. Although patterns of biodiversity loss have (Cowlishaw and Dunbar, 2000) and Botanical gardens
been explored extensively, their ecological implications (Parks and Gardens, 2000).Numerous management
have been extended to cover Botanic Gardens. strategies are employed in the sustenance and
According to Şekercioğlu et al. (2004, 2006) even conservation approach, but changing situations avail
though only 1.3% of bird species have gone extinct themselves which further induces amendment in the
since 1500 AD, the global number of individual birds is management approach (Brooks et al., 2001).
estimated to have experienced a 20–25% reduction
during the same period, indicating that avian Botanic Garden is a place where plants are grown and
populations and dependent ecosystem services are displayed primarily for scientific, educational and
declining faster than species extinctions would recreational purposes. Although they are well known
indicate. for their importance to plant science and their
significant role in conserving plant diversity, it must be
noted that, plant communities are not devoid of fauna,
as the two are simply inseparable and their
interdependences are more complex than what meets
the naked eye. This concept of Botanic gardens dealing
with plants alone has become a one way management
strategy in the issue of conservation. While
conservation seems to embrace fauna and flora issues,
the botanical garden concept discriminate among the
two while they each aim at attaining goals of
sustainability and conservation. To date no faunal
survey has been conducted at gardens in Ghana
because of the misconception that botanic gardens deal
with plants alone. Yet there are over 2,300 bird species
in the African Region, a high proportion of which are
endemic to the continent. Although birds present huge
opportunities for nature tourism, it is also one of the
reliable indicators of terrestrial biological richness
(Bibby, 2000) yet they have been neglected in the
Fig. 1. Map of Aburi Botanic Garden (Source: Parks Botanic Gardens which serve as refuge to many. It is
and Gardens, 2000) against this background that anavifaunal survey
wascarried out within the botanic garden in Ghanato

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 Int. J. Biosci. 2012

inform management in the formulation of strategies of alteration at all. In it grows indigenous timber species,
the Ghana’s biodiversity conservation. The objectives climbers, lianas and shrubs.
of this study were toassess the abundance and diversity
of the bird species inhabiting the Botanical Garden and To equalize sampling intensity, five (5) transects where
todocument a list of birdspecies in the botanic garden. laid systematically in both the Botanic Reserve and the
Cultivated Area. Each transect was 1000m long.
Materials and methods Transects were laid on existing paths and distance was
Study area calculated with a GPS (Global Positioning System).
The Aburi Botanic Garden is situated on the Akuapem
Ridge located at about38 km north east of Accra the Bird Census procedure
capital city of Ghana on an elevation of 370 to 460 m Transects were walked at an average speed of
(1200 – 1500 Ft.) above sea level.Geographically, it is 100m/hr.All birds sighted were recorded with counts
found on Latitude 5.8469 N and Longitude repeated twice a day for three days. Coordinates of the
0.1755Wwhich covers an area of 64.8 hectares (160 beginning and end of each transect were obtained
acres). The garden been divided into two distinct zones using a Garmin GPS Arc-Map 60Cx with an error of ±
which differ in vegetation structure, namely the 5m whilst direction of alignment was determined using
botanical reserve or closed forest which covers about a sunto compass.
52.6 hectares and cultivated area or open forest which
covers about 12.2 hectares (Fig. 1).The garden is The survey team composed of three persons and was
composed of tree species such as Celtisadolfi-frederici, maintained throughout the survey to ensure
Celtiszenkeri,Triplochitonscleroxylon, consistency in the data collection procedure.The survey
Cylicodiscusgabunensis, and Piptadeniastrum was done twice in a day that is morning (6.00-10.00)
Africana,Hymenoistegiaafzelii,and Myrianthussp. and evening (16.00-18.30). Using Olympus binoculars
There are also special plant collections such as with exit pupil diameter of 2.5,birds were identified by
Ornamentals: Araucaria spp., Bambusa nana, sight with the help of Field Guide to birds of West
Calophyllummophyllum, Cedrela spp., Delonixregia, Africa with Nomenclature after Borrow and Demey
Dilleniaindica, Elaeocarpussearratus, (2001).
Enterolobiumcyclocarpum, Ficusleprieuri,
Garciniaxanthochymus, Murraya exotica (Parks and Calculation of community parameter
Gardens, 2000). Assumptions on normality and homogeneity of all
cases were justified based on examinations of
Site classification residuals. A difference in the abundance of birds within
The site was stratified into two blocks based on the the two fragments of the gardens was determined by
vegetation type, which is closed (Botanic Reserve) and Mann Whitney U test.Diversity (Hs) of the total
open canopy forest (Cultivated Area): community in the two fragments of the Garden was
i) The cultivated area (Lawn 1 to 10): which was calculated using Shannon Index as represented in the
mainly an open forest of artificially and natural formula below:
growing trees and shrubs. It is further divided into ten
different lawns comprising of palm, spices as well as
local and foreign timber species.
ii) The Botanic Reserve or Natural vegetation
area: is made up of a natural forest with little or no

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 Int. J. Biosci. 2012

Pi = ni/N, where pi is proportion ofindividuals found whereas 393 individuals belonged to 45 species were
in the ith species, ni is the number of individuals of sighted within the cultivated area.
species and N is the total number of individuals.
The ratio of the observed to maximum diversity can be
taken as a measure of evenness (E). Evenness was
calculated as; E = Hs/InS
Where S is the number of species in each community
Dominance (d) expressed the proportional importance
of the species and was calculated as; d = ni/N*100
To compare species composition between habitat
types, the Söerensen index (Cs) of species similarities
was used and calculated as; Cs = 2S1. S2/S1 + S2
Where S1 or S2 is the number of species in each
community and S1.2 being the number of species
shared between then. Cs is constrained between 0 (no
species in common) and 1.0 (all species in common).
Fig. 2. Graph showing the average number of birds
within the botanic reserve and cultivated area
The frequency of occurrence in percentage was
determined from the raw data by dividing the number
of occurrence of a species in a transect by the total
number of plots occupied by a particular species and
multiplying by 100%. The relative status of each
species based on the frequency of occurrence is defined
below.
 Rare: species found between 1% – 50% of the
census plots
 Common: species found between 51% – 75%
of the census plots
 Abundant: species occurring between 76% -
100% of the census plots
All these calculations were carried out using PAST Fig. 3. Graph Showing Shannon's diversity and

(PaleontologicalStatistics software) Version 2.13 evenness indices of bird species within the botanic

(Hammer et al., 2001) and Microsoft office Excel. reserve and cultivated area.

Results and discussions The mean number of birds encountered per 100m in

Density, diversity and the distribution of bird species the cultivated Area was 79.0 (SD= 26.6) whereas that
of Botanic Reserve was 29.6 (SD= 6.43) birds as shown
in the different fragments of the garden
in Fig. 2. Mann Whitney U Test was used to evaluate
A total number of 541 individual birds were sighted
the hypothesis that the bird density occurring in the
from 10 transects during the entire study period in the
Botanic Reserve and Cultivated Area are the same. But
area with a total number of 148 individuals sighted
within the Botanic Reserve belonged to 50 species the result indicated that at 0.05 alpha level, the

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 Int. J. Biosci. 2012

difference in medians of the bird densities were The relatively dominated species
significant as p < 0.05 (U = 1898, p = 0.039). wasLamprotomissplenditus (Splendid Glossy
Starling)with 11.4% whereas that of the species with
The Shannon Index was used to evaluate the diversity the less dominated wereCypsiurusparvus(African
of bird Species in both categories of the garden. The palm swift), Vidusmacroura(Pin – Tale Whydah)with
Shannon Index for the Cultivated Area was 3.462 with relative dominance of 0.3% in the cultivated area
(lower confidence level 3.59 3.77 upper CL at 95% (Table 1). But the Botanic reserve recorded a relative
whereas the Botanic Reserve encountered an index of dominance of 8.1% for the most abundant species
3.698 (3.32 - 3.48 CL at 95 %.) An evenness of 0.90 example Corvusalbus(African pied Crow) and a 0.7%
and 0.95 was detected respectively.Diversity‘t’test for the less dominant species example Turturafer
indicate that there was no significant difference (Blue spotted wood dove), and Touracopersa (Green
between the diversity of birds in the two fragments of Turaco) (Table 2).
the garden(t = 1.6522, p = 0.099).
With reference to Table 2 it could be deduced that for
The distribution of bird species and abundance shows every 100m within the cultivated area, there was an
no significant difference between the two fragments of abundance of 9.0 birds, example was
the study area. It has been speculated that birds fly Lamprotomissplenditus(Splendid Glossy Starling) for
across to both sides of the garden. The birds take the most abundant species as against 0.2 birds for the
refuge within the gardens as it is the only one of its less abundant species e. g.Cypsiurusparvus(African
kind in the vicinity. The garden therefore can serve as a palm swift), Vidusmacroura(Pin – Tale Whydah)
model to demonstrate the needfor back yard garden etc.(Table 1). But for every 100 meters in the Botanic
that would secure birds with its diverse range of floral reserve there was an abundance of 2.4 birds
species from accelerated rate of deforestation. e.g.Corvusalbus(African pied Crow) for the most
However, some species were found to be existent in abundant species as against 0.2 birds for the less
one fragment alone which indicates the presence of abundant species e. g.Cypsiurusparvus(African palm
habitat specialist and the habitat generalist species swift), Vidusmacroura(Pin – Tale Whydah) (Table 2).
which thrive in both fragments of the garden for either The bird species found in each fragment of the garden
food or shelter resources. Thus from the Söerensen were birds which found their needed resources within
Index, it was indicated that about 80% of the species the area. The presence of abundant food resources may
found were habitat generalist whereas only 20% are be a main determining factor in the relatively high
habitat specialist which either belong to the Botanic densities in the cultivated area (open forest). In the
Reserve or to the Cultivated Area. process of developing the cultivated area for scenic
view, it offered the opportunity for a wide variety of
Relative dominance, abundance, frequency of food resources which mayinducedseveral kinds of
occurrence, and the variation of species in the various feeders being dominant in the area (Insectivorous,
fragments of the garden Nectarous, frugivorous). In general, a habitat defines
The cultivated area of the botanic garden was found to the activities of the bird species though some could be
support more individual bird species (393 individuals) endemic to their niches where as some depend on
than the Botanic Reserve (148 individuals) (U = 1898, prevailing conditions such as predators, food and
p = 0.03992). This may be due to the alteration made season as suggested by Bunnun and Howell (2002).
to the original natural vegetation area that has been
replaced with cultivated floral plants.

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 Int. J. Biosci. 2012

Table 1. Species composition, relative dominance, abundance and the frequency of bird occurrence within the
cultivated area.
Bird Species Scientific Name Relative Abundance Frequency Of
Dominance /100m Occurrence

Gray Headed Sparrow Passer griseus 0.5 0.2 20

African Palm Swift Cypsiurusparvus 0.3 0.2 20

Fire Bellied Wood Pecker Dendropicospyrrhogaster 0.3 0.2 20

Levaillant’s Cuckoo Oxylophuslevaillantii 0.3 0.2 20
Pin-Tale Whydah Vidusmacroura 0.3 0.2 20
Buff Throated Sunbird Nectariniaadelberti 0.5 0.4 20
African Pied Waged Tail Motacilla aguimp 0.5 0.4 40
African Pigmy King Fisher Ceyxpictus 0.5 0.4 40
Yellow Billed Kite Milvusaegyptius 0.5 0.4 40
Green Sun Bird Anthreptesrectirostris 0.8 0.6 20
Johanis Sun Bird Cinnyrisjohannae 0.8 0.6 20
Laughing Dove Stigmatopeliasenegalensis 0.8 0.6 20
Didric Cuckoo Chrysococcyxcaprius 0.8 0.6 40
Chestnut Breasted Malkoha Phaenicophaeuscurvirostris 0.8 0.6 60
Spotted Fly Catcher Muscicapastriata 1.0 0.8 40
Black and White Manikin Spermetes bicolor 1.0 0.8 60
Yellow White Eye Zosteropssenegalensis 1.0 0.8 80
Pied Fly Catcher Ficedulahypoleuca 1.3 1.0 80
Willow Warbler Phylloscopustrichilus 1.3 1.0 80
Woodland King Fisher Halcyon senegalensis 1.5 1.2 60
Olive Sun Bird Cyanomitraolivaceus 1.5 1.2 80
Black Neck Weaver Ploceusnigricollis 1.5 1.2 100
Yellow Spotted Barbet Buccanodonduchaillui 1.8 1.4 20
Red Rump Tinker Bird Pogoniulusatroflavus 1.8 1.4 60
Splendid Sunbird Cinnyriscoccinigaster 1.8 1.4 80
Yellow Fronted Tinker Bird Pogoniuluschrysoconus 2.0 1.6 40
Village Weaver Ploccuscuculatus 2.0 1.6 60
African Pied Crow Corvusalbus 2.0 1.6 80
Black Kite (Hawk) Milvusmigrans 2.0 1.6 80
Little Swift Apusaffinis 2.0 1.6 80
Northern Gray Headed Passer griseus 2.0 1.6 80
Sparrow
Hairy Breasted Barbet Tricholaemahirsuta 2.5 2.0 60
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 2.5 2.0 100

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 Int. J. Biosci. 2012

Coloured Sun Bird Anthothreptes simplex 2.8 2.2 80

Red Eyed Dove Streptopeliasemitorquata 2.8 2.2 80
Broad Billed Roller Eurystomusglaucurus 2.8 2.2 100
African Green Pigeon Treroncalvus 3.0 2.4 80
Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtesmonachus 3.0 2.4 80
Speckled Tinker Bird Pogoniuluschrysoconus 3.3 2.6 80
Band Swallow (White) Atticora fasciata 3.5 2.8 100
Superb Sunbird Cinnyrissuperbus 4.1 3.2 80
Grey Crowned Negrofinch Nigritacanacapillus 5.3 4.2 60
Common Bubul Pycnonotusbarbatus 5.8 4.6 100
African Pied Hornbill Tockusfasciatus 6.1 4.8 100
Grey Backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyuran 6.1 4.8 100
Splendid Glossy Starling Lamprotomissplenditus 11.4 9.0 100

Status of birds in the Aburi Botanic Gardens Cypsiurusparvus(African Palm Swift),

In the cultivated area, 49.9% of the species were Dendropicospyrrhogaster(Fire Bellied Wood Pecker),
classified as abundant species, among them were Oxylophuslevaillantii(Levaillant’s Cuckoo),
Cinnyriscoccinigaster(Splendid Sunbird), Vidusmacroura(Pin-Tale Whydah),
Corvusalbus(African Pied Crow), Milvusmigrans Nectariniaadelberti (Buff Throated Sunbird) etc.
(Black Kite), Apusaffinis(Little Swift), Passer
griseus(Northern Gray Headed Sparrow), In the Botanic Reserve, 12% of the species were
Pycnonotusbarbatus(Common Bubul), classified as abundant examples are Cypsiurusparvus
Tockusfasciatus(African Pied Hornbill), Camaroptera (African Palm Swift), Tockusfasciatus (African Pied
brachyuran (Grey Backed Camaroptera), and Hornbill), Vidusmacroura (Pin-Tale Whydah),
Lamprotomissplenditus (Splendid Glossy Starling). Cyanomitraolivaceus (Olive Sun Bird),
Furthermore 15.2% were classified as common; among Atticora fasciata (Band Swallow-White), Corvusalbus
them are Phaenicophaeuscurvirostris (Chestnut (African Pied Crow) etc. In addition, 14% was classified
Breasted Malkoha), Spermetes bicolor (black and as common; among them are Hedydipnacollaris
white Manikin), Halcyon senegalensis (Woodland (Collard Sun Birds), Phylloscopustrichilus (Willow
King Fisher), Pogoniulusatroflavus(Red Rump Warbler), Milvusmigrans (Black Kite),
Tinkerbird), Ploccuscuculatus (Village Weaver), Ploceusnigricollis (Black Neck Weaver),
Tricholaemahirsuta (Hairy Breasted Barbet) etc. In Motacilla aguimp (African Pied Waged Tail),
addition, 13.0% were classified as uncommon Treroncalvus (African Green Pigeon) etc.
Motacilla aguimp (African Pied Waged Tail), Furthermore, 26% was classified as uncommon
Ceyxpictus (African Pigmy King Fisher), examples include Cinnyrisjohannae(Johanna's Sun
Milvusaegyptius (Yellow Billed Kite), Bird), Pycnonotusbarbatus (Common Bubul), Nigrita
Muscicapastriata(Spotted Fly Catcher), bicolor (Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch),
Chrysococcyxcaprius (Didric Cuckoo), Rhaphidurasabini (Sabine Spinetail),
Pogoniuluschrysoconus (Yellow Fronted Tinker Bird) Chrysococcyxcaprius(Didric Cuckoo),
etc., whereas 21.7% were classified as rare Passer Oxylophuslevaillantii(Levaillant's Cuckoo),
griseus(Gray Headed Sparrow), Andropadusvirens(Little Green Bull),

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 Int. J. Biosci. 2012

Pogoniulusatroflavus(Red Rump Tinker Bird), Bledacanacapillus (Grey Headed Bristle Bill),

Apalissharpii (Sharpe's Apalis), Macrosphenusconcolor (Grey Long Billed),
Pogoniuluschrysoconus(Speckled Tinker Touracopersa (Green Turaco), Chrysococcyxklass
Bird),Muscicapastriata (Spotted Fly Catcher), (Klaas's Cuckoo), Apusaffinis (Little Swift),
Cinnyrissuperbus (Superb Sunbird), Kaupifalcomonogrammicus (Lizard Buzzard),
Nigritafusconotus (White Breasted Negrofinch) etc. Andropadusvirens (Little Green Bull),
Whereas 48% was classified as rare, among them are Pholidornisrushiae (Tit Hylia) etc.
Turturafer (Blue Spotted Wood Dove),

Table 2. Species composition, relative dominance, abundance and the frequency of bird occurrence within the
botanic reserve.
Bird Species Scientific Name Relative Abundance Frequency Of
Dominance /100m Occurrence
Blue Spotted Wood Dove Turtur afer 0.7 0.2 20
Grey Headed Bristle Bill Bledacanacapillus 0.7 0.2 20
Grey Long Billed Macrosphenusconcolor 0.7 0.2 20
Green Turaco Touracopersa 0.7 0.2 20
Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyxklass 0.7 0.2 20
Little Swift Apusaffinis 0.7 0.2 20
Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalcomonogrammicus 0.7 0.2 20
Little Green Bull Andropadusvirens 0.7 0.2 20
Tit Hylia Pholidornisrushiae 0.7 0.2 20
Woodland King Fisher Halcyon senegalensis 0.7 0.2 20
Yellow Spotted Barbet Buccanodonduchaillui 0.7 0.2 20
Yellow Whiskered Greenbull Andropaduslatirostris 0.7 0.2 20
Broad Billed Roller Eurystomusglaucurus 1.4 0.4 20
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 1.4 0.4 20
Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyxcaprius 1.4 0.4 20
Olive Bellied Sunbird Cinnyrischloropygius 1.4 0.4 20
Pied Fly Catcher Ficedulahypoleuca 1.4 0.4 20
Senegal Coucal Centropussenegalensis 1.4 0.4 20
Tamborian Dove Turturtympanistria 1.4 0.4 20
Didric Cuckoo Chrysococcyxcaprius 1.4 0.4 40
Levaillant's Cuckoo Oxylophuslevaillantii 1.4 0.4 40
Little Green Bull Andropadusvirens 1.4 0.4 40
Red Rump Tinker Bird Pogoniulusatroflavus 1.4 0.4 40
Sharpe's Apalis Apalissharpii 1.4 0.4 40
Speckled Tinker Bird Pogoniuluschrysoconus 1.4 0.4 40
Spotted Fly Catcher Muscicapastriata 1.4 0.4 40
Superb Sunbird Cinnyris superbus 1.4 0.4 40

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 Int. J. Biosci. 2012

White Breasted Nigrita fusconotus 1.4 0.4 40

Negrofinch
Chestnut Wattle Eye Platysteira castanea 2.0 0.6 20
Green Hylia Hylia prasina 2.0 0.6 20
Pale Fly Catcher Melaeno pallidus 2.0 0.6 20
Splendid Glossy Starling Lamprotomis splenditus 2.0 0.6 20
Chestnut Breasted Nigrita bicolor 2.0 0.6 40
Negrofinch
Sabine Spinetail Rhaphidura sabini 2.0 0.6 40
Black Kite (Hawk) Milvus migrans 2.0 0.6 60
Black Neck Weaver Ploceus nigricollis 2.0 0.6 60
Common Bubul Pycnonotus barbatus 2.7 0.8 40
African Pied Waged Tail Motacilla aguimp 2.7 0.8 60
African Green Pigeon Treroncalvus 2.7 0.8 60
Pin-Tale Whydah Vidusmacroura 2.7 0.8 80
White Throated Bee Eater Meropsalbicollis 3.4 1 20
Grey Crowned Negrofinch Nigritacanacapillus 3.4 1 60
Willow Warbler Phylloscopustrichilus 3.4 1 60
African Pied Hornbill Tockusfasciatus 3.4 1 80
Collard Sun Bird Hedydipnacollaris 4.1 1.2 60
African Palm Swift Cypsiurusparvus 4.1 1.2 80
Olive Sun Bird Cyanomitraolivaceus 4.1 1.2 80
Johanna's Sun Bird Cinnyrisjohannae 4.7 1.4 40
Band Swallow (White) Atticora fasciata 4.7 1.4 80
African Pied Crow Corvusalbus 8.1 2.4 80

In the botanic reserve six (6) different species were The cultivated area has a higher average number of
found to be exclusive to the area. They include birds abundant as compared to the Botanic Reserve
Cypsiurusparvus(African Palm Swift), Corvusalbus (Figure 2). This could be due to the different diversities
(Africa Pied Crow), Ploceusnigricollis(Black Neck in plants, nuts, flowers, foliage and a myriad of insects
Weaver), Melaenopallidus (Pale Fly catcher), in the area, this can attract nectarous, insectivorous
Vidusmacroura (Pink Tail Whydah) and and frugivorous birds which aid in pollination and seed
Ploccuscuculatus (Village Weaver). Where as in the dispersal (Struhsaker, 1987).A daily influx of tourist is
Cultivated Area five different species including; speculated to influence the distribution of birds in the
Bubulcus ibis (Cattle Egret), Corvusalbus (African Pied garden; birds which can tolerate human intrusions
Crow), Streptopeliasemitorquata (Red eyed Dove), inhabit the cultivated area where visitors to the garden
Pogoniuluschrysoconus (Sparkled Tinker bird), and use. Birds which cannot tolerate human intrusions
Lamprotomissplenditus(Splendid Glossy Starling) were more comfortable in the Botanic reserve because
were found to be exclusive to the area. of the probable little human intrusion.

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 Int. J. Biosci. 2012

Conclusion and recommendation 3. Policies of the Botanic Gardens should

The distribution of birds and their abundance is include the protection of birds and other faunal species
influenced by the habitat type and the kind of because of their interdependent relationship.
resources it avails. Thus each bird’s specific 4. Bird monitoring programs should be
requirements are the set of conditions that the habitats instituted to constantly update existing information on
possess. The environment of the study area primarily is birds since they are capable of migrating.
stable, and the conservation of various plants species
also in turn conserve a diversity of birds and other Aknowledgement
We are indebted to Presbyterian University College,
fauna such as butterflies, ants, reptiles etc. On the
Ghana for sponsoring this study. We also thank Dr.
broader scale, the primary conservation of plant
Frank S. Arku for his encouragement. We are grateful
diversity equally leads to the secondary conservation of
to the curator of Aburi Botanic Garden Mr. Raphael
less and conspicuous yet important organisms of the
Massang for his permission and MessrsEdem Kojo Doe
ecosystem.
and Budu-Mensah for their assistance during the data
collection.
Food and light determined the presence or absences of
birds within the two habitat types. Habitats with a
References
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Bibby CJ, Burgess ND, Hill DA. 2000.
large number of individual birds yet fewer species, and
BirdCensus Techniques.London, Academic Press.
habitats with a lower light penetration (Botanic
Reserve) support smaller number of individuals with
Borrow N, Demey R. 2001. Birds of Western
more different species.
Africa. London: Christopher Helm.

The bird species dominant in the area were generalist

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1. The study did not cover behavioural patterns
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