Avian Diversity in Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan.

Avian diversity was studied for the period of two years from January 2011 to December 2012, within and around the Central Karakoram National Park including Nagar (Hisper, Hoper, Nagar-Khas, Askurdas, Summair and Shahyar valleys), Skardu (Shigar valley) and Ghanche (Mashabrum valley). A total of 108 species belonging to 75 genera, 38 families and 16 orders were identified in the study areas. Order Passeriformes was dominating with 57% species followed by Anseriformes (7%), Charadriiformes and Accipitriformes (6%) each, Columbiformes (5%), Galliformes and Falconiformes (4%) each, Pelecaniformes (3%), Coraciiformes and Gruiformes (2%) each, and Bucerotiformes, Apodiformes, Caprimulgiformes, Piciformes, Suliformes and Strigiformes (1%) each. Residential status indicated that 57 species were residents (including birds with winter and summer influx), 26 species were summer visitors and 25 were winter visitors. Relative abundance revealed that 38 species were uncommon, 37 were common, 17 were very common and 16 species were rare. The main threats to the avian diversity in the study area were degradation of habitat due to anthropogenic activities like shooting, trapping, poaching and use of pesticides on fruit orchards and vegetable fields. © 2014 Friends Science Publishers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]