A preliminary study on the breeding birds of Dez Protected Area in Khuzestan Province, Iran

This investigation is a collection of studies on the breeding birds of Dez Protected Area performed from Fe-bruary 2011 to Jun 2012. During that period, field studies were executed every other 2-4 days. 5 species of native bree-ding birds including White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis, Common Babbler Turdoides caudatus, Collared Dove St-reptopelia decaocto, Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis, European Roller Coracias garrulous and 7 species of migratory breeding birds including Grey Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus, Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor, Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius, Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata Ba-nk Swallow Riparia riparia, Blue cheeked Bea-eater Merops persicus were observed. Among the breeding birds, Coll-ared Dove S.decaocto had the most extensive breeding period from February till the early of August. Common Babbler T. caudatus (53 nests) was the frequent breeder in the terrestrial part of the Dez Protected area. Terrestrial breeding bi-rds of the area prefer habitats with Ziziphus nummularia, vegetations for breeding. Bank Swallow R.riparia with more than 300 nests was the most common species in the watery part of Dez Protected Area. They selected riparian walls for nest building. Habitat destruction was the most important threatening factor for the breeding birds.