Studi Keanekaragaman Burung Areal Tambang Desa Kawasi Kabupaten Halmahera Propinsi Maluku Utara

Abstract

Mining activities are among the major drivers of land-use change and can significantly influence bird communities through habitat alteration and landscape fragmentation. This study aimed to assess bird diversity, habitat utilization, and conservation status within the mining landscape of Kawasi Village, Obi Island, North Maluku, Indonesia. Bird surveys were conducted across multiple habitat types, including active mining areas, reclaimed sites, wetlands, artificial water bodies, shrublands, secondary forests, and remnant forest patches using point-count surveys complemented by opportunistic observations. A total of 52 bird species belonging to 31 families were recorded, representing an increase from previous surveys that documented 40 species from 27 families. Fourteen species constituted new records for the study area, including three species newly recorded on Obi Island: Accipiter erythrauchen, Gallirallus philippensis, and Tachybaptus ruficollis. The avifaunal community comprised a wide range of trophic guilds, including raptors, frugivores, insectivores, and nectarivores, reflecting the high habitat heterogeneity of the mining landscape. Nineteen species were identified as nationally protected or internationally significant, including Lorius garrulus (Endangered) and Ptilinopus granulifrons (Vulnerable) according to the IUCN Red List. In addition, at least 13 Wallacean endemic species and several migratory species were documented. The findings indicate that despite extensive land-cover modification caused by mining activities, the heterogeneous habitat mosaic formed by remnant forests, reclaimed areas, wetlands, and anthropogenic habitats continues to support substantial avian diversity and important ecological functions. These results highlight the conservation value of the Kawasi mining landscape and emphasize the importance of preserving remaining natural habitats, maintaining landscape connectivity, and enhancing habitat quality within reclamation areas to support long-term biodiversity conservation in tropical mining regions.