Abstract: Increasingly the benefits of green streets are being better defined and quantified through scientific research. The importance of this factor is still lagging behind in most metropolitan setting studies. The aim of this study is to examine the prospect for avifauna conservation in Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria using the green street concept. The study delineated the green street network, ascertains the area of buffer zone polygon, obtained data on bird species richness and developed manuscript map of green street buffer zone polygon for the study area. Twenty streets and forty bird species were used for this study. Data on bird species richness was obtained using the time-species count technique along transects at local time (10.00am-11.00am). The total length of the green street network was 62.96 km with 33.80 km2 (21.58% of the total landmass) as total buffer zone polygon, six routes with pristine emergent trees recorded between 40 – 85 per cent of the bird species richness in the study area. It was observed that forest birds such as Andrea cinerea (Grey heron), Egretta alba (Great White heron), Alcedo atthis (Common Kingfisher), Halcyon malimbica (Blue-breasted Kingfisher), Milvis migrans (Black Kite) Polyboroides typus (African Harrier-hawk) and Pica pica (Pied Crow) have found the green street buffers as alternative to their forest habitats that are under threat. Also in this category are Streptopelia senegalensis (Laughing Dove), Stretopelia semitorguata (Red-eyed Dove), and Tockus nasutus (African Hornbill). Estrilda astrild (Common Waxbill), Musicapa epulata (Little Grey-flycatcher), Terpsiphone rufiventa (Black-headed Paradise Flycatcher) and Musicapa caerulescens (Ashy Flycatcher) that are catholic in their feeding habits are important residents of Calabar Metropolis. Generally, the result of this study shows that there are prospects for conservation of avifauna in Calabar Metropolis. In line with the above finding, this paper recommends that metropolitan planning should contain explicit goals with respect to green streets. Furthermore, systematic greening of larger parcels of open spaces need strengthened and developers should be encouraged to conserve more forest trees at development sites.
Keywords: Green Street, Systematic greening, Avifauna, Biodiversity, Conservation.
Title: The Green Street: Prospects for Avifauna Conservation in Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria
Author: Oka P. O., Inyang M. E., Majuk, S. M., Owoanam, E. S.
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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