Abstract

• The present research of wading birds was observed in wetland habitats where intruded by invasive golden apple snail (GAS) Pomacea canaliculator in Maubin District, Ayeyarwady Region. Field surveys were carried out from February, 2019 to January, 2020. Distance sampling point count method (Buckland et.al., 2004) was applied in this research. A total of 21 wading bird species (2985 individuals) of 15 genera belonging to seven families in three orders were recorded. Out of total, 11 wading birds were observed as predatory or on the invasive species of golden apple snail. According to their food types, snails were main food type for them. These wading birds were molluscivores. The effects of the wading bird species on snail abundance were studied by the flock sizes of wading birds. The flock sizes of wading birds were recorded in two different sites (low wading birds pressure site and high wading birds pressure site). A total of 40 flocks were recorded in two different sites (25 flocks in low wading birds pressure site and 15 flocks in high wading birds pressure site). The highest numbers of flock size were recorded in the wading birds species of Anastomus oscitans, (11 flocks) and Plegadis falcinellus (5 flocks). During the study period, the golden apple snail destroyed the paddy fields only in a single night in the study site. Moreover, it consumed large quantities of different plant species which were as habitats for some bird species. The result showed the GAS has become a pest for pre-germinated rice crops and other aquatic plants in the study area. Based on the data, the wading birds could potentially feed on golden apple snails in their feeding ground. It is proposed that the wading birds were good predators or biological control agents on the invasive golden apple snail (GAS) Pomacea canaliculator.