10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

Wetlands are biodiversity hotspots that provide essential habitats for birds but are increasingly threatened by habitat modification and anthropogenic disturbance. Understanding how bird communities vary across wetland landscapes is fundamental for effective conservation planning. This study assessed bird diversity, richness, abundance, and spatial distribution across natural and modified wetlands in Busia, Kisumu, and Siaya counties, western Kenya, while examining the influence of habitat characteristics and disturbance gradients on bird community structure. Bird surveys were conducted along 18 transects across natural and modified wetlands representing varying disturbance levels. Species richness, abundance, Shannon–Wiener and Simpson diversity indices were calculated, while two-way ANOVA tested the effects of study site and transect type. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and spatial mapping were used to evaluate bird species distribution and relationships with environmental variables. A total of 7,039 individual birds representing 180 species from 60 families were recorded. Species richness varied significantly among counties (F = 4.40, p = 0.035), whereas transect type had no significant effect on richness (p = 0.202) or abundance (p = 0.317). Spatial analyses showed distinct county-level patterns, with Siaya supporting the highest species richness and diversity, Kisumu the greatest abundance but lower diversity due to species dominance, and Busia intermediate bird community structure. PCA identified riparian vegetation, plantation cover, disturbance intensity, and local environmental conditions as the primary factors structuring bird community composition and distribution. These findings highlight the importance of habitat quality and environmental gradients in shaping bird communities across Western Kenya wetlands. Protecting natural wetlands, conserving riparian vegetation, and promoting sustainable land-use practices will be critical for maintaining avian biodiversity and ecological resilience in the region.