FEEDING ECOLOGY OF BIRDS IN SELECTED MICROHABITAT IN PULAU TINGGI, JOHOR, MALAYSIA

Understanding the feeding ecologies of birds is a crucial part of conservation purposes. Scholars interpreted terrestrial birds in many journals, yet studies on waterbirds, primarily shorebirds were poorly understood along the Peninsular Malaysia coastal line. Most researchers only record species presence and very few studies were previously conducted on feeding ecologies. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the feeding ecology of the birds in a selected microhabitat in Pulau Tinggi from March until August 2019. The study used mist-netting and direct observation techniques with a video camera and binoculars. A total of 39 species of birds comprising 24 families were censused. Seven feeding guilds were successfully identified. Carnivores dominated the highest species composition with 28%, followed by insectivores at 21%, frugivores and omnivores at 15% each, carnivore-insectivores and frugivore-insectivores at 10% each, and granivorous with 5%. From the analysis, we found no significant difference between the feeding guild and birds’ location of birds’ feeding preferences in forest and coastal zones (z= -1.1, p= 0.31). Understanding the feeding ecology of the birds in a specific ecosystem is vital to understand how the birds exploit their resources and utilize the environment to avoid competition and thus sustain in that ecosystem.