The recent release of the “State of India’s Bird 2020” at the 13th Conference of Parties of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, has presented crucial insights into the bird population of the country. The first-of-its-kind comprehensive analysis was conducted by ten research and conservation organizations and utilizes a substantial database of over 10 million observations put forth by 15,000 birdwatchers.
Trends in Bird Populations
The report highlights both declining and increasing trends in various species of birds. Raptors, migratory shorebirds, and habitat specialists, such as the White-rumped Vulture, Richard’s Pipit, Indian Vulture, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Pacific Golden Plover, and Curlew Sandpiper have shown a significant decline.
Conversely, species like Rosy Starling, Feral Pigeon, Glossy Ibis, Plain Prinia, and the Ashy Prinia have exhibited an increase in numbers.
Categorization of Birds
The study classifies 101 bird species as high concern, 319 as moderate concern, and 442 as low concern. Interestingly, 26% of the species labeled as high concern are listed globally by IUCN as “least concern”.
Analysis of Individual Species
The Indian Peacock, the national bird, has experienced a dramatic increase in numbers over recent years due to range expansion, conservation efforts, and penalties for poaching.
In contrast, Indian vultures have suffered dramatic declines since the early 1990s, mainly due to poisoning from the livestock anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac. The White-rumped Vulture, followed by the Indian Vulture and Egyptian Vulture, have been hit hardest.
The House Sparrow, despite declining numbers in major cities, has remained stable countrywide. The decline has been attributed to decreasing insect populations and a lack of suitable nesting sites rather than radiation from mobile phone towers.
Status of Bustards and Waterbirds
All four species of bustards present in India, including the Great Indian Bustard, Macqueen’s Bustard, Lesser Florican, and Bengal Florican, have shown continuous population declines due to historical hunting and habitat loss. Waterbirds, especially migratory shorebirds and gulls and terns, too, have witnessed a downward trend, with migratory species showing steeper declines than residents.
Key Recommendations for Bird Conservation
To address these concerning trends, the report recommends updating global and national conservation priorities, funding efforts to conserve high concern species and their habitats, supporting citizen scientists, and fostering collaborations between researchers and the public to monitor bird populations.
