Avifauna of Entoto Mountain Forest, Ethiopia: Diversity and Potential for Tourism Development

Abstract

Information on ornithological significances of important bird areas is required to develop appropriate actions for conservation of the birds and their habitats and to untap their potential contribution to local and national economy through avitourism activities. This study was conducted between December 2016 and January 2017 to determine bird diversity in the Entoto Mountain and to examine the potential of the area for developing avitourism. Birds were surveyed at systematicaly designated counting points. Overall, 517 individual birds belonging to 49 species were recorded in the entire study area. Of the total species recorded: i) two species were endemic [Abyssinian Catbird (Parophasma galiniei) and Yellow-fronted Parrot (Poicephalus flavifrons)]; ii) 11 species were nearly endemic (shared with one or two other countries); iii) three were globally threatened; and, iv) 21 species (43% of such species known from Ethiopia) were Afro-tropical highland biome-restricted assemblage. These findings, coupled to its close proximity to Addis, the presence of several cultual/historical sites in the area and easy accessibility, suggest that Entoto mountain area can be considered as with high potential for developing avitourism as one segment of ecotourism in the area.