Habitat variables affecting black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) habitat selection in summer in Shir-Ahmad Wildlife Refuge, Sabzevar

The understanding of the species habitat requirements and parameters affecting the habitat selection would be essential for sustainable coservation. The black-beilled sandgrous (Pterocles orientalis) occurs in some southern plains of Sabzevar including Shir-Ahmad Wildlife Refuge. Although it suffers intensive habitat destruction and hunting, still there is no enough information about its population ecology in this distribution area. The study area was surveyed for recording presence and absence sites of bird. Using logistic regression analysis the association between species presence/absence and habitat parameters was examined. It was found that vegetation height, height of tallest shrub, canopy cover percentage, stony coverage, distance to roads, distance to water resource, altitude and slope, negatively and ant nest occurring, gravel percentage and stone number ,positively, in assessment plots are significantly associated with the black-beilled sandgrous presence (p<0.05).