Habitat quality assessment based on local expert knowledge and landscape patterns for bird of prey species in Hamadan, Iran

Habitat quality assessment provides crucial information that can benefit species protection by concentrating conservation resources on specific areas. Unfortunately, such assessments are often rare for avian species in Iran, especially for birds of prey. Here, we modeled the habitat quality of several birds of prey species, including the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca), Saker falcon (Falco cherrug), and Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo) in Hamadan province, Iran, based on land use and land cover (LULC) data, distribution of anthropogenic threats, and expert knowledge. Habitat quality maps were then evaluated by applying landscape composition and configuration metrics, which indicated that a large portion of the 3500 km2 study area is highly suitable for A. heliacal (2115.5 km2) and F. cherrug (1658.13 km2) while a much smaller fraction was highly suitable for N. percnopterus (59 km2) and F. subbuteo (90 km2). Landscape metrics analysis also revealed the importance of patch contiguity, density, and fractal dimension for conservation value. Landscape pattern dynamics play a significant role in determining species' habitat quality and can be informative for biodiversity conservation. Based on our findings, we recommend that the suitable habitats identified in this study be further assessed for ecological protection.