Studies on Avifauna diversity of Haft Hoz national tourism zone, Mashhad(2020-2022)

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.