Ponum Nasir, Muhammad Zaheer Khan, Muhammad Asif Iqbal, Uzma Manzoor, Laraiba Noor, Sehrish Khan, Shaista Aslam and Tahira A Lateef
Keywords: Gilgit Baltistan, birds biodiversity, high-altitude areas, eco-tourism.
Abstract: Borith Lake (36° 25' 52" N, 74° 51' 40" E), Hunza District, Gilgit Baltistan, was surveyed for avian diversity from 2021 2022, revealing 207 species across 18 orders and 45 families. The top 18 bird orders by species count were: Passeriformes 104, Charadriiformes 32, Accipitriformes 17, Anseriformes 16, Columbiformes 6, Pelecaniformes 6, Falconiformes 4, Gruiformes 4, Galliformes 3, Strigiformes 3, Podicipediformes 3, Coraciiformes 2, Piciformes 2, Suliformes 1, Bucerotiformes 1, Apodiformes 1, Cuculiformes 1 and Ciconiiformes 1 species. Notably, large numbers of migratory birds visited the lake and surrounding areas during spring (mid-February to mid-March) and summer (mid-August to mid September). During the present study 01 bird species (Steppe Eagle) was recorded as Endangered, 02 species (Greater Spotted Eagle and Common Pochard) as Vulnerable and 07 bird species as Near-threatened in the study area. The lake's habitat appears to face no severe threats. This study establishes a baseline for understanding Borith Lake's avifaunal richness, population, and distribution, providing valuable insights for future research, conservation and management efforts.
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