Ethno-ornithology, Hunting and Conservation of Wild Birds in Kashmir Himalayas, India

There is little information on wild birds hunting for sustenance in the Kashmir Himalayas. We gathered data via semi-structured questionnaires complemented by direct observations. We used hierarchical cluster analysis and ordination techniques to analyze the data and linear regression models to illustrate the relationship between use value and frequency of citation. Regarding the bird-hunting preferences, 64% are commonly hunted, 23% are occasionally hunted, and 13% are hunted rarely; migratory birds are hunted the most (69%). We used the heat map analysis to classify 29 bird species in three hunting categories into two clusters based on the indicator species. Human pressures on exploited avifauna have significant ecological repercussions, necessitating conservation strategies that integrate cultural, economic, and social dimensions.