IMPACTS OF ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES ON BIRDS AND THEIR HABITATS IN AND AROUND LAKE SOLAI, KENYA

Abstract

Birds serve as vital indicators of ecosystem health and biodiversity, yet knowledge of their distribution, diversity, and threats in habitats surrounding ecosystems such as Lake Solai, Nakuru County, Kenya, remains limited. Lake Solai supports a diverse assemblage of resident and migratory avifauna but faces increasing anthropogenic pressures, including pollution, grazing, agricultural expansion, and urbanization. This study aimed to evaluate bird distribution and feeding guilds across habitat types, assess species richness and diversity, compare relative bird densities, and identify anthropogenic threats affecting avian communities in and around Lake Solai. Field data were collected using point count and line transect surveys, generating a comprehensive checklist of bird species that included taxonomic identification, habitat associations, IUCN conservation status, migratory status, feeding guilds, and forest dependency. Species richness and diversity were analyzed using sample-based rarefaction-extrapolation curves (iNEXT platform) and the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H′), with Hutcheson’s t-test evaluating significant differences. Sørensen’s similarity index quantified species overlap among habitats, while one-way ANOVA compared bird densities. Threat assessments were based on structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests of goodness of fit and independence in IBM SPSS software (version 20). Bird species diversity varied across habitats, with wetlands and settlements showing the lowest diversity (H′ = 3.723– 3.774), intermediate diversity in farmlands (H′ = 3.938), and the highest diversity in forests and grasslands (H′ = 4.087–4.151). Hutcheson’s t-tests indicated significant differences between most habitat pairs, except for forests vs. grasslands and settlements vs. wetlands. One-way ANOVA revealed no statistically significant differences in bird density across habitats (F = 0.832, df = 4, p = 0.525). Chi-square analysis of reported threats showed significant variation in frequency among threat types (χ2 = 296.796, df = 10, p < 0.001). In conclusion, bird species diversity in and around Lake Solai is strongly influenced by habitat type, whereas density varies with habitat structure and resource availability. Habitat degradation, climate change, human disturbance, and pollution were identified as primary anthropogenic pressures. Conservation recommendations include the protection and restoration of wetlands and forests through formal designation as conservation areas, implementation of habitat-based conservation planning, promotion of reforestation and catchment protection, pollution control, and community-led habitat monitoring. Integrating climate-smart agriculture, environmental education, and participatory management within local livelihoods will enhance community ownership and foster long-term ecological resilience. Long-term monitoring of avian populations to evaluate the impacts of environmental change on biodiversity and maintain ecosystem balance in the Lake Solai ecosystem. .