Diversity and species richness of insectivorous birds in agricultural landscapes of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Jeli campus.

Insectivorous birds are birds that feed primarily on insects and other arthropods. They play an important role in the ecosystem as natural pest controllers and indicators of environmental health and biodiversity. This study aims to calculate the diversity index and species richness of insectivorous birds in the agricultural landscapes of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Jeli Campus from February to March 2024. Kelantan is experiencing a hot and dry season during this period, which is affecting the presence of birds. In the study, 27 sampling plots, each 100 meters apart with a radius of 20 meters, were selected to evaluate the diversity of insectivorous bird species using mist nets and point counts. Binoculars and a field guide were utilized to aid in the identification process. To predict and analyse the diversity within these plots, several diversity indices were employed, including Shannon’s Index, which measures species diversity, Margalef’s Richness Index, which assesses species richness, and Pielou’s Evenness Index, which evaluates how evenly individuals are distributed across different species. Additionally, ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) was used to compare the means of diversity indices across different plots, providing a comprehensive understanding of the bird species diversity in the study area. In the study, 15 species of insectivorous birds from 10 families were recorded, totaling 604 individuals in the agricultural landscape. The Muscicapidae family represented the highest percentage of recorded families, accounting for 27.81% of the total. Using the Shannon-Wiener Index (H'), the study revealed that the commercial crops area close to the forest exhibited higher bird diversity (H' = 2.29) compared to areas dedicated to fruits (H' = 2.18) and vegetables (H' = 2.14). These findings highlight the diverse community of insectivorous birds present in the agricultural landscapes of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Jeli Campus. The study emphasizes the importance of habitat diversity in supporting avian biodiversity and suggests that maintaining a variety of crop types could enhance ecological health and pest control services.