Human activities are pushing birds to brink

Human activities are pushing birds to brink

Pune: Interference by humans and expansion of the city has led to extinction of nearly 1,469 bird species, which can be stopped by spreading awareness and taking steps at micro level. ornithologist Satish Pande revealed this while talking about the habitat modification and destruction caused to bird species. He said factors affecting avian population include land modification, air pollution, industrialisation, changes in agriculture patterns, hunting and poaching. 

Pande, said, “Farms now occupy six times more of Earth’s land surface than they did 300 years ago, rising from 6 to 38 per cent till today. Due to this, not only the birds , but also species of trees are also facing extinction.” 

Pune’s scenario
Habitat destruction, lake, pond and river pollution has affected the birds in Pune. Along with the fear of extinction of some local species, the widespread encroachment has endangered the wet-land birds.

“If we talk about Pune, we see less number of sparrows. Riverton bird, a local migratory bird which used to be seen in large numbers, is now seen in much smaller numbers,” said ornithologist Dharmaraj Patil. He blamed indiscriminate construction activity, building of highways or underground roads for destruction of habitat of reptiles, butterflies and small mammals. He added that this affects the entire species of food chain, as everyone is dependent on each other. 

“Birds enjoy the mud bath, but it’s rare to see soil (in urban areas). The Kingfisher bird hovers over a water body and catches the fish. But the river water is unclear, filled with sewage water and other pollutants, affecting his food chain,” he said.

Migratory birds
Pande said the migratory birds which were once considered common and widespread are now plummeting towards extinction. “These include European Turtle-dove, Snowy Owl,Atlantic Puffin, Yellow-breasted Bunting, Grey Parrot,  Black-legged Kittiwake and Vultures,” Pande added.
 
Patil said the Wood Warbler’s Pune visits have been affected by construction on tekdis (hill-tops). “The pheasant family of birds, which feeds on plants like lotus, too has been impacted as there is less vegetation. The beautification of Pashan lake has affected huge number of migratory birds visiting the site,” he said.

Pande feels extinction of various bird species is imminent. The solution is that people should be made aware and steps need to be taken at micro level. 

Although, there are policies and law regarding it, poor implementation, gross negligence, indiscriminate tree cutting, increasing number of residential complexes have greatly contributed towards extinction of local species.

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