Among flowers and thorns: birds associated with Encholirium spectabile, a keystone bromeliad in a Brazilian semi-arid region

Birds are common visitors of bromeliads, despite the scarcity of studies on the association of these plants with bird communities, especially for terrestrial and rupicolous species. In the present study we first address the association of a bird community with rupicolous bromeliads (Encholirium spectabile) in rocky outcrops of the Brazilian semi-arid region. The observations were made monthly between 2014 and 2018. The species of birds which used bromeliads were recorded, as well as the abundance of individuals and the interaction (guilds) between bird species and bromeliads. We also test the possible effects of seasonality on the richness and composition of bird species recorded between the dry and rainy seasons. Twenty-one species in 12 families that used bromeliads regularly were recorded and this number rises to 31 species in 16 families when considering the opportunistic records. Birds used bromeliads as a feeding site for either nectar or small animals, and as a place for nesting or resting. There were no significant differences as to the richness or abundance of bird species between seasons, but the species composition changed between them. The study shows that E. spectabile is an important kind of bromeliad for the bird community, as it plays a key role in inhabiting their surroundings. Therefore, the conservation of these bromeliads directly impacts the conservation of birds that use them. We suggest the clumps of E. spectabile as a place for bird watching in the semi-arid region of Brazil.