Evaluation of Water Birds Population Trends, Threats, and Conservation Status in Selected Wetlands of Pakistan

Water birds are considered to be important biological indicators for measuring the quality and significance of wetlands.We conducted field surveys at the six wetlands from each September to March 2017-2022.Data were collected using point count methods at one to fifteen vantage points in each sub-lake using binoculars, monocular, and Nikon D7200 (150-600 lens).A community-based survey including questionnaires and interviews with local hunters, shepherds, farmers, shopkeepers, and students at local schools, colleges, and universities.A total of 450 questionnaires were filled.Exclusively, 73 water birds from 11 orders were observed.Results showed the species composition of Charadriiformes exceptionally high (20 spp., 27.39%), while the lowest order was Accipitriformes (1 spp., 1.36%).Population trends for 73 water bird species, 16 (11.19%)birds species exhibited an increasing trend, 27 species (36.98%) declined, 6 species (8.21%) remained stable, while population trends for 24 species (32.87%) were unknown.13 species (17.8% of the total) have been listed as threatened species, including 8 species (10.95%) listed as near threatened, 2 species (2.73%) vulnerable, and 2 species (2.73%), while the remaining 61 (83.56%) species listed as least concern.Major threats for water birds were hunting, habitat loss, degradation, climate change, use of pesticides, pollution, human disturbance, trading, and agricultural development.Out of 73 species, 14 (56.16%) were pollution, 34 (46.57%) were human disturbance, 31 species (42.46%) were hunting, 30 species (41.09%) pollution, 22 species (30.13%) trading, 20 species of waterbirds are affected by pesticides (27.39%), 17 species (23.28%) climate change, 12 species (16.43%) agricultural development.The most hunted group is Anseriformes (43%), while the least is Suliformes (2%).The recommendation was suggested to conserve the water birds in the study area.