Bird Habitats in Urban Environments: A Case from an Urban Landfill in and around Tayba Al Hasanab Landfill, Khartoum, Sudan

Abstract

Managed open landfill sites can serve as crucial feeding grounds for birds. Studies have demonstrated that garbage dumps offer favorable feeding habitats for various trophic generalist species, including storks and scavenger raptors. This study aimed to assess bird diversity and abundance in and around Tayba Al Hasanab Landfill, Khartoum. A bird census was conducted using block counts in January 2021. A questionnaire complemented field observations, and interviews were conducted with landfill authorities and waste collectors to gather information on bird availability, numbers, and diversity. During the block counts, 23 bird species were recorded inside and around the landfill. These species directly relied on food resources available at and around the landfill, belonging to 8 orders and 11 families. The four most abundant species foraging at the landfill were Sparrow House ( Passer domesticus ) with 97 individuals, Black kite ( Milvus migrans ) with 67 individuals, cattle egret ( Bubulcus ibis ) with 42 individuals, and Laughing Dove ( Spilope lia senegalensis ) with 36 individuals. This suggests that these species are the primary exploiters of food resources at the landfill. The results indicate that all species are considered least concerned except the Egyptian Vulture ( Neophron percnopterus ), which is classified as endangered. Most of the interviewed individuals reported seeing birds in the study area. The study recorded instances of dead birds, such as a white stork colliding and being electrocuted with a transition line observed at different sites along transmission lines near the landfill. Surveys around Tayba landfill need to be conducted to identify deadly power lines for replacement or implement possible mitigation measures on power lines running parallel and close to the Tayba landfills. The avian community foraging at the landfill displayed fluctuations in abundance and interspecific interactions across seasons. Given that the substantial influx of birds to landfills can pose various environmental challenges in urban settings, this study underscores the significance of examining the seasonal dynamics of bird communities concerning the location and management of landfills.