Bioecology and Birds of Hingol National Park

Over the past three decades, Pakistan's Protected Areas system has expended to include 221 sites that are listed as protected areas on the national register. There are now 22 National Parks, 96 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 3 Wildlife Parks, 2 Nature Parks, 1 Wildlife Refuge, 1 Crane Refuge and 96 Game Reserves. The studies were undertaken during the period 2006 to 2009 to record the distribution and status of the birds of Hingol National Park (HNP), to identify the threats and to make recommendations for their conservation. A total of 158 species of birds were recorded. The bird fauna comprised of waterbirds, birds of prey, game birds, passerines and other birds (Parakeet, Nightjar, Swifts, Kingfishers, Bee Eaters, Roller, Hoopoe and Woodpecker). The threatened species of birds recorded in the HNP include Laggar Falcon, Pallas's Fishing Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Egyptian Vulture, Indian White backed Vulture, Painted Stork and Sociable Lapwing. The research techniques and information are helpful for graduate and research students of wildlife, National Parks managers, wildlife biologists, wildlife conservation organizations etc.