The birds have gone, but where, and why?

November 12, 2008

Humaira Ansari

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 03:33 IST

*Where there was birdsong, now rests only silence. Urbanisation, and

ignorance among the population is seeing bird numbers steadily decline*

Older generations will often talk, rather nostalgically, of waking up in

Mumbai to the rays of the sun and the melodious sounds of birds. But if the

younger generation looks puzzled, there's a reason for it. Mumbai's bird

population has been seeing a steady decline over the past decade.

" There is definitely a decline in the city's bird population, and this is

mainly due to urbanisation. Trees are being cut and the city's green patches

have been converted into a concrete jungle, " says Colonel Khanna, from the

Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

Even the common Indian sparrow, which a decade ago was as much a part of

Mumbai's din as car horns and vendor calls, has been looking elsewhere for

prime avian real estate. According to Nilesh Bhanage, honourary secretary,

PAWS (Plant and Animals Welfare Society), every year the organisation

celebrates World Habitat Day wherein it distributes sparrow nest boxes to

its volunteers. They are required to plant these nest boxes on their

verandas and galleries, to ensure that sparrows lay their eggs and the

species is thus saved from urban extinction.

" We also need to protect the habitats of barn owls and some species of

kite, " says Bhanage, adding that these birds have started living in the

city, and there is an obvious animal-human conflict. " People want to kill,

hurt, or shoo away these birds, " he says. He also points out that the hoots

of an owl at night are considered ominous by some people, and hence they

want get rid of the bird, " but there is a dire need to educate people

against doing so " .

--

Mansi Bhanage

Rescue - Co-ordinator

+91 9820161114

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