Inventory of Avifauna in Degraded and Intact Habitats of Cross River State, South South Nigeria

Birds are sensitive ecological indicators whose community composition reflects the condition of surrounding habitats. This study inventoried avifaunal diversity in degraded and intact forest habitats across two sites in Cross River State, comparing species richness, abundance, and guild composition between habitat types. Point count surveys were conducted at fifty stations in each habitat type during morning and evening activity peaks over two field seasons. Species were identified using visual and acoustic cues with reference to standard West African bird field guides. A total of ninety-two bird species were recorded across both habitat types, with intact forest supporting significantly higher species richness and greater abundance of forest interior specialists, including several Afrotropical endemic species. Degraded habitats were dominated by generalist and edge-adapted species tolerant of disturbed conditions. Frugivore and insectivore guilds were markedly reduced in degraded sites, suggesting disruption of seed dispersal and arthropod regulation ecosystem services. The presence of three species listed on the IUCN Red List was confirmed only in intact forest patches. These findings provide empirical support for prioritising the protection of remaining primary forest in Cross River State, particularly in areas adjacent to the Cross River National Park, and for implementing active restoration in degraded buffer zones. Keywords: avifaunal diversity, habitat degradation, Cross River State, forest birds, conservation.