Species Composition and Diversity of Birds in Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Taraba State: A Baseline Survey

Gashaka-Gumti National Park in Taraba State is recognised as one of Nigeria's most biodiverse protected areas, yet comprehensive bird diversity surveys remain scarce, limiting informed conservation management. This study documents the species composition, abundance, and diversity indices of avifauna in three vegetation types within the park: riparian forest, Guinea savanna, and montane grassland. Point count and transect methods were used across twelve survey stations over two seasons (dry and wet) in 2023. A total of 186 bird species were recorded, belonging to 52 families. Shannon-Wiener and Simpson diversity indices were computed for each habitat type. Riparian forest yielded the highest species richness and evenness, supporting rare and range-restricted species including the Rockfowl and several sunbird taxa. Guinea savanna exhibited greater abundance but lower diversity, dominated by granivorous and insectivorous species. Montane grassland recorded the fewest species but contained several Afromontane endemics. Seasonal variation was significant, with wet season surveys recording approximately 23% more species. Human disturbance indicators, including livestock intrusion and bush burning near park margins, were negatively correlated with diversity scores. This study provides the first spatially stratified bird inventory for the park in over a decade and establishes a monitoring baseline. Improved ranger coverage in the southern forest sectors is recommended as a priority intervention. Keywords: avifauna, species diversity, Gashaka-Gumti, point count method, biodiversity survey