Avifauna and Frog Diversity of the Selected Barangays of Kiamba, Sarangani Province

This study investigated the avifaunal and frog diversity of Barangay Kapate, Tamadang, Gasi and Tambilil in Kiamba, Sarangani Province using transect survey (visual and acoustic) and opportunistic sampling methods on September 26-29, 2010 and February 14-16 2011, for a total of six bird transects, each measuring at least a kilometer long, and two stations for frog. A total of 687 individuals of birds were documented resolved into 44 species and 26 families. The most abundant species of birds were Mirafra cantillans, Phapitreron leucotis, Dicaeum australe, and Apus pacificus. Accipitridae and Culombidae were observed to dominate the area. Frog survey revealed 64 individuals which were resolved into 9 species and 4 families namely, Ranidae, Rhacophoridae, Pelobatidae, and Microhylidae. Simpson's diversity index analysis indicated that the most diverse transect and stations were Transect III and station II with an SID value of 0.98 and 0.78, respectively. Moreover, based on IUCN criteria of 2010, four bird species were listed as "Near-Threatened" namely Apo sunbird (A. boltoni), Rufous Coucal (C. Unifurus), Writhed hornbil (A. leucocephalus), Zamboanga Bulbul (l. rufigularis), while Visayan hornbill (P. Panini) is listed as "Endangered". Among frogs surveyed, only Rana magna was reported to be endemic, the rest being cosmopolitan species.