Why in News?
The State of India’s Birds 2020 (SoIB), a new scientific report on bird species was released recently.
What is the significance of this report?
- It is the first such assessment of long-term trend, current trend, distribution range size and overall conservation status of 867 birds.
- Adequate data on how birds fared over a period of over 25 years (long-term trend) are available only for 261 species.
- Current annual trends are calculated over a five-year period.
- This report jointly released by 10 organisations is based on the observations contributed by the birdwatchers on eBird platform.
What are some findings?
- This assessment raises the alarm that several birds face a growing threat from loss of habitat due to human activity, widespread presence of toxins, hunting and trapping for the pet trade.
- It warned that diminishing population sizes of many birds because of one factor brings them closer to extinction because of the accelerated effects of others.
- For every bird species that was found to be increasing in numbers over the long term, 11 have suffered losses, some catastrophically.
- Of 101 species categorised as being of High Conservation Concern, endemics such as the Rufous-fronted Prinia, Nilgiri Pipit and Indian vulture were confirmed as suffering current decline.
- All these species except 13 had a restricted or highly restricted range, indicating greater vulnerability to man-made threats.
On what basis, the health of the avifauna is looked on?
- The health of avifauna is looked at based on scientific groupings such as raptors (birds of prey), habitat, diet, migratory status and endemicity (exclusively found in an area).
- The analysis concludes that raptors overall are in decline, with some ‘open country’ species such as the eagle suffering the most.
- Migratory shorebirds, along with gulls and terns, seem to have declined the most among water birds.
- Within India, the losses suffered by resident water birds, particularly in the past five years, calls for detailed investigation, it adds.
- From a dietary viewpoint,
- Meat-eater birds’ populations have fallen by half,
- Birds depend on insects exclusively have also suffered over the long term.
- There has been some stabilisation for omnivores, seed and fruit eaters in recent years.
- Habitat impacts have decimated ‘specialist’ birds, which need specific environmental conditions to survive, particularly those dependent on forests.
- This is followed by declines in numbers of grassland, scrubland and wetland species calling for urgent investigation into the causes.
What are some suggestions in the report?
- Forward-looking actions suggested by the report include an update to the IUCN Red List of endangered species using the SoIB.
- There should be a collaborative research by scientists and citizens aided by policy with special emphasis on removing gaps in data.
- An urgent emphasis on habitats of species of high concern, notably grasslands, scrublands, wetlands and the Western Ghats.
What is the way forward?
- Resolute steps to protect forests and other habitats will confer multiple benefits, protecting other myriad species too.
- It is essential to revive the Great Indian Bustard, now pushed to precariously low numbers.
- Coursers and floricans need help with their delicate habitat.
- Bird diversity in India must be protected to improve the health of forests, wetlands, open country habitat and high mountains.
Source: The Hindu
