فهرست مطالب negar fallahi akhlamad

Birds are the major part of Iran's vertebrates and they are scattered in a wide area of the country and are known as one of the important are known as one of the most important biological indicators for diagnose the environmental state and ecosystems wellness. Therefore, identifying the bird’s fauna is the first and vital step in this regard. The present study was carried out with the aim of identifying the avifauna of Haft Hoz national tourist zone in Mashhad city during 2 years from March 2020 to March 2022. Haft Hoz is a mountainous region that includes seven natural ponds is located over seven kilometers in the southeast of Mashhad city. To identify birds based on their flight, color, size, behavior and sound, a survey method was used using binoculars, photographic cameras and birdwatching telescopes. According to the results, 147 bird species from 18 orders were identified in the study area (27% of the species and 69% of the orders identified in Iran). The highest diversity and abundance of species belongs to the Passeriformes order with 76 species (51.7% of all observed species), and the least variety and abundance of species belongs to the order of Cuculiformes, Apodiformes, Caprimulgiformes, Piciformes and Ptercolidiformes with one genus and one species identified in the region. Also, among the identified species, 28 species are supported and protected, 5 species with conservation value are in the IUCN Red List and 20 species are also in CITES Appendix One and Two. . The results of this research indicates that Haft Hoz national tourism zone has a rich bird’s fauna and it will have a high potential in terms of tourism, especially bird watching, so it is essential to pay more attention to this area.

Information on the dietary nicheis an integral and challenging part of conservation planning,and it is essential for understanding the status of a species in biological communities and conservation. In this study, to investigate the diet of little owls Athene noctua(Strigiformes: Strigidae) in northeastern Iran'sKhorasan Razavi Province,a total of 402pellets were collected during 2019-2020.The results indicated that during four seasons, the diets of the studied little owls (contained: 72.9% rodents, 12% insects, 10.1% eulipotyphla, 2.9% birds, and 2.1% reptiles). Rodents, included Muridae, Dipodidae,and Cricetidae families.Muridae had the highest percentages in the pellets (Mus musculus)and (Merionessp.)with48.2% and 33.1%relative abundance,respectively). Thepercentage of rodents in winter,with 82.8% was superior in comparisonto other seasons,and then in autumn with 77.3%,and in spring and summer with 62.9%. Simpson Biodiversity Indexwas 0.653 for the whole year.Springand winter had the highest (0.758), and lowest biodiversity index(0.542), respectively. The implication of the results of this studymightbeintheconservation and management programs, as well.