Seasonal Distribution and Habitat Use of the Green Peafowl Pavo muticus, Linnaeus 1766, in Wiang Lor Wildlife Sanctuary, Phayao Province, Northern Thailand

Abstract

Green Peafowl distributed in Thailand are classified into two populations but little is known about that in the North including at the Wiang Lor Wildlife Sanctuary, Phayao Province. The Green Peafowl distribution and habitat use at the study site was assessed in the dry and wet seasons in 2013 by diurnal sightings and their tracks three times a month using a 4.1 km ´ 4.5 km grid system. In addition the sighting and sign of natural predators, frequency of human disturbances, and habitat types were recorded using global positioning system. Overall, Green Peafowls and their traces were recorded in 115/1,791 (100 ´ 100 m) grid cells. In the dry season, which is in the breeding period, the frequency of sightings and traces were detected in 63 grid cells, classified as dry-dipterocarp (44.4%) and mixed-deciduous (39.7%) forests, as well as community forest (11.1%) and agricultural areas (4.7%). In the wet season, birds and their traces were detected in 52 grid cells, which were mainly classified as dry-dipterocarp (55.8%) and mixed-deciduous (36.5%) forests, with only some (7.7%) and none being community forest and agricultural areas, respectively. Distribution boundary of Green Peafowl in wet season is larger than dry season, whilst, the frequency of detected data in wet season is lower than dry season. In dry season, the important habitats were dry-dipterocarp and mixed-deciduous forests, which are used for foraging and breeding grounds, whilst the mixed-deciduous forest is used as a brood rearing ground in the wet season. Regarding the disturbances, six sighting and sign of natural predators and three human activities were observed with different degrees of disturbance to Green Peafowl.