The trimonthly chicken atlas by Delhi authorities’s Department of Forest and Wildlife that begins this month, is predicted to offer enough information on birds — each resident and migratory — in addition to serving to the federal government in city planning and different issues.
This is the primary time the Department will conduct such a census.
“The biggest benefit of this survey is that we will make an atlas which will reveal the distribution of species of birds. It will help in identifying the steps that need to be taken. So, this atlas will be a powerful tool,” Sohail Madan, wildlife ecologist and CEO of WildTales, instructed Patriot.
“This is a welcome step by the government, and we have high hopes from it because the number of birds has been decreasing here over the last decade. It should be systematic and backed by data. We can find out the current situation/baseline [of birds] through this. If it happens in a good way, it can help to make conservation plans in the future.”
Madan, who’s a famend birdwatcher, defined the significance of it for human beings.
“First, we need to understand why birds are important to us. There are various reasons for it. Some birds help in pollination. In this process, birds fly from a one flower and fruit to another and eat them. This helps to sow seeds through excretion. Some other birds help to remove garbage, which prevents spreading of diseases in the society. Like vultures, who eat the meat of dead cattle that can spread pandemic. Birds are also friends of farmers and eat insects and moths, snakes among others.”
Habitat loss
Madan stated additional, “In the Delhi-NCR area, birds come from different areas such as Siberia, Kazakhstan while some come from mountain areas. Some, called the passage migrants, incidentally land here for a brief while. But overall, the number has hugely decreased. The biggest reason behind this is that the habitats of birds such as wetlands, ponds among others are shrinking slowly, especially in Delhi. This is called ‘habitat loss’.”
Madan additionally touched on the decline of sure breeds like sparrows.
Madan added, “Some birds, such as sparrows, can’t be seen now. They could be seen everywhere in the past but not now. They aren’t extinct but have migrated to places where the numbers of insects are much higher.”
But has there been an affect?
“Due to the decrease of birds? Yes, surely! It has had an impact on nature and ecosystem, but I can’t say anything correctly without proper studies. For example, in 1960, the Chinese government encouraged killing of sparrows. They thought that sparrows eat wheat, so by killing they could save the wheat. But it had an adverse impact. When the number of sparrows decreased, the number of insects increased and they harmed the wheat. The loss of wheat increased by an extra 20%.”
Madan has performed chicken surveys of Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary.
He stated there are round 250 varieties of birds, together with migrates and likewise these critically endangered.
Statistical Model
When requested in regards to the means of conducting the survey, Madan stated, “It is grade-wise with statistical modelling. We divide Delhi into grades and count different places at hopefully the same time. Then, with the help of the statistical model, we find out the final numbers.”
He confessed that it isn’t utterly correct but it surely provides an thought and helps in giving the approximate quantity.
“We human beings are a part of wildlife, and in this ecosystem, birds are as important as humans.”
Delhi-based birdwatcher Nikhil Devasar has been intently following nature and wildlife for over 20 years. He is the founding father of ‘Delhi Bird Foundation’.
Devasar’s journey and relationship with birds and nature started with two folks and has now touched hundreds over twenty years.
He instructed Patriot, “The migration of birds was low this year compared to last year. And it’s happening due to climate change. Forest, water and greenery are decreasing. This is affecting it.
“Actually, birds come down to eat food. When on mountains, and if the snowfall is not happening there, they manage food there. Then there is no need to come down [to cities].”
Devasar’s experience has resulted within the publication of a number of books together with on birds about Delhi.
He stated additional, “Basically, the government wants to check the actual situation through this census, because no study has happened until now. Last year in Delhi-NCR, we counted that the number of species of birds was 253, while this year it has decreased to 234.”
He additionally conducts consciousness campaigns and academic programmes on birds for young folks, educates schoolchildren, and organises census of Delhi’s birdlife via the Big Bird Day, which is an annual occasion.
“The total bird list of Delhi is around 500 of which half are migrants. Some birds arrive in summer but mostly they come to Delhi in winter. In some areas of Delhi-NCR, birds have occupied high-rise buildings like in Gurugram, where there were many wetlands in the past but there aren’t many now.”
Anand Pendharkar, who’s the founding father of ‘Sprouts’, is a bio-diversity skilled. He has performed bird-walks in Asola Bhatti, Green Park, Aravalli amongst different locations.
“The census is a good initiative. They can find out the actual situation through it. Study of birds is very important for the survival of human beings too. For example — if suddenly the death of crows increases, then it could be a possible sign of an upcoming dangerous disease. Kerala killed ducks due to fear of disease. So, counting of bird is important,” he instructed Patriot.
“With the increase in urbanisation, the habitats of sensitive and migratory birds are being destroyed. On the other hand, garbage dumps are also increasing which is profitable for some birds like kites. In housing societies too, pigeons are getting enough space.”
Pendharkar, who has put chicken walk information on an e-bird app, stated additional, “An important thing is that a great backyard bird count happened on February 16-19. This is an annual global event where people collect data from all over the world. The good thing is that in this counting, individual people from society are involved and they find out the numbers of birds.
“The government should involve school students in it. It can also improve urban planning.” stated Pendharkar.
