According to a latest study ‘The State of India’s Birds 2020’, hundreds of birds in India are disappearing at an alarming rate. The report relied on the observations of more than 15,000 birdwatchers, who helped assess the status of 867 birds. Researchers examined trends over a 25-year period, and subsequently over the last five years, and in both cases found the numbers had declined.
Crux of the Matter
Behind the Numbers Over the last quarter of a century, there is data available for 261 species, 52 percent of which were found to be decreasing in number. Thus overall there are 101 species now classified as of “high conservation concern”. According to Dr. Dhananjai Mohan of the Wildlife Institute of India, the findings are based on more than 10 million observations by birdwatchers. They were collated on eBird, a global crowdsourced database that has real-time data on the distribution and abundance of birds.
Hit and Miss The greatest reduction is of the birds of prey, migratory shorebirds, and highly-adapted habitat specialists who live in specific ecosystems. These numbers include the White-rumped Vulture, Richard’s Pipit, Indian Vulture, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Pacific Golden Plover, Curlew Sandpiper. The species that weren’t affected are Rosy Starling, Feral Pigeon, Glossy Ibis, Plain Prinia, Ashy Prinia and the Indian Peafowl.
What Went Wrong? Across the world, animals, plants and their shared ecosystems face severe existential threats due to anthropomorphic climate change, habitat loss, and industrial farming techniques, which use fertilisers and insecticides. Scientists have claimed humanity has now entered the world’s sixth mass extinction event, which is the most rapid global biodiversity crisis since the dinosaurs were wiped out. Back at home, the study has shifted the focus back on India’s conservation policy, management and funding models in order to protect remaining populations.
Peacock Population Rises In India, Sparrows Remain Stable But 52 Per Cent Bird Species Have Declined https://t.co/MuUlsDRHZM — Swarajya (@SwarajyaMag) February 18, 2020
Curiopedia
Bird conservation is a field in the science of conservation biology related to threatened birds. Humans have had a profound effect on many bird species. Over one hundred species have gone extinct in historical times, although the most dramatic human-caused extinctions occurred in the Pacific Ocean as humans colonised the islands of Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia, during which an estimated 750-1800 species of bird became extinct. According to Worldwatch Institute, many bird populations are currently declining worldwide, with 1,200 species facing extinction in the next century. The biggest cited reason surrounds habitat loss. Other threats include overhunting, accidental mortality due to structural collisions, long-line fishing bycatch, pollution, competition and predation by pet cats, oil spills and pesticide use and climate change. More Info
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