Rapid Assessment and Feeding Guilds of Birds in Selected Rubber and Oil Palm Plantations in North Cotabato

The degradation of tropical rainforests in Mindanao has augmented the interest in the potential value of commercial plantations for the conservation of biodiversity. However, it is not yet apparent how this type of land use affects forest bird fauna since there were no studies conducted yet to document birds in commercial plantations, particularly in North Cotabato. Hence, this study was done to determine occurrence of birds in Carumba Oil Palm Plantation (COPP) and Platinum Rubber Plantation (PRP) in North Cotabato. A combination of mist netting and transect walk technique had recorded 30 birds species belonging to 6 orders, 19 families and 26 genera. Passeriformes was the most represented order having 20 species, six of which were country endemics and two were Mindanao faunal region endemics. Noteworthy was the presence of one threatened species (Alcedo argentata) from PRP with a vulnerable conservation status. Results indicate that oil and rubber agro-forestry systems contribute to conservation efforts by serving as habitats to endemic bird species. In addition, major feeding guilds of birds were also determined. Insectivorous species predominated in both areas. This high number of insectivorous species delivers a natural pest control service in the plantations which is beneficial to farmers and owners.

Keywords - bird fauna, endemism, feeding guilds, rubber plantation, oil palm plantation, North Cotabato