The study assessed major environmental determinants influencing bird community in six wetlands over a 2-year period. A combination of visual and bird sounding techniques under population monitoring survey was used to determine the seasonal variations in bird abundance. A total of 1,169 birds from 25 species and 885 individuals from 23 species were identifiedin the wet and dry season respectively. The shallow close marshes supported the greatest number of birds (p<0.05) compared to the riparian wetlands. Bird diversity were significantly higher in the wet season than in the dry season (F = 4.101, p<0.05). Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) and Marsh warbler (Acrocephaluspalustris) were the most abundant. Using the IUCN ‘Red List’ database guide, we noted that 96.2% of birds identified were least concern (LC), while the Yellow weaver bird (Ploceousmegarhrynchus) was the only vulnerable species (VU) and represented 3.8%. From the three variables tested, bushfire and farming practices were the major threats andcumulatively explained 15.93% (wet season) and 14.06% (dry season) variations in bird diversity and abundance. The findings in this study will help managers of wetlands design conservation measures that will check current threats on birds classified as least concern from becoming vulnerable in the future.
