State of India’s Birds 2023 Report

• 29 Aug 2023

For Prelims: State of India’s Birds 2023 Report, IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), Western Ghats, Asian Koel, Migratory Birds, Climate Change.

For Mains: State of India’s Birds 2023 Report.

Source: IE

Why in News?

Recently, the State of India’s Birds (SoIB) 2023 was released, which highlighted that despite thriving a few bird species, there is a substantial decline in numerous bird species.

• the SoIB 2023 is a first-of-its-kind collaborative effort of 13 government and non-government organisations, including the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), Worldwide Fund for Nature–India (WWF–India) among others, which evaluates the overall conservation status of the most regularly occurring bird species in India.

What are the Methodologies Used in the Report?

• This report is based on data collected from approximately 30,000 birdwatchers.
• The report relies on three primary indices to assess bird populations,
  • Long-term trend (change over 30 years)
  • Current annual trend (change over the past seven years)
  • Distribution range size within India
    • Among the 942 bird species assessed, the report indicates that many could not have their long-term or current trends accurately established.

What are the Key Highlights of the Report?

• Status:
  • For the 338 species with identified long-term trends, 60% have experienced declines, 29% are stable, and 11% have shown increases.
  • Among the 359 species with determined current annual trends, 39% are declining, 18% are rapidly declining, 53% are stable, and 8% are increasing.
• Positive Trends: Increasing Bird Species:
  • Despite the general decline, there are some positive trends among certain bird species.
    • The Indian Peafowl, for instance, the national bird of India, is showing a remarkable increase in both abundance and distribution.
      • This species has expanded its range into new habitats, including high-altitude Himalayan regions and rainforests in the Western Ghats.
    • The Asian Koel, House Crow, Rock Pigeon, and Alexandrine Parakeet are also highlighted as species that have demonstrated a notable increase in abundance since the year 2000.
• Specialist Birds:
  • Bird species that are “specialists’’ – restricted to narrow habitats like wetlands, rainforests, and grasslands, as opposed to species that can inhabit a wide range of habitats such as plantations and agricultural fields – are rapidly declining.
  • The “generalist’’ birds that can live in multiple habitat types are doing well as a group.
    • “Specialists, however, are more threatened than generalists.
    • Grassland specialists have declined by more than 50%.
  • Birds that are woodland specialists (forests or plantations) have also declined more than generalists, indicating a need to conserve natural forest habitats so that they provide habitat to specialists.
• Migrant and Resident Birds:
  • Migratory Birds, especially long-distance migrants from Eurasia and the Arctic, have experienced significant declines by more than 50% – followed by short-distance migrants.
  • Shorebirds that breed in the Arctic have been particularly affected, declining by close to 80%.
  • By contrast, resident species as a group have remained much more stable..
• Diet and Decline Patterns:
  • Dietary requirements of birds have also shown up in abundance trends. Birds that feed on vertebrates and carrion have declined the most.
    • Vultures were nearly driven to extinction by consuming carcasses contaminated with diclofenac.
  • White-rumped Vultures, Indian Vultures, and Red-headed Vultures have suffered the maximum long-term declines (98%, 95%, and 91%, respectively).
• Endemic and Waterbird Declines:
  • Endemic species, unique to the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot, have experienced rapid declines.
    • Of India's 232 endemic species, many are inhabitants of rainforests, and their decline raises concerns about habitat preservation.
  • Ducks, both resident and migratory, are declining, with certain species like the Baer’s Pochard, Common Pochard, and Andaman Teal being particularly vulnerable.
  • Riverine sandbar-nesting birds are also declining due to multiple pressures on rivers.
• Major Threats:
  • The report highlighted several major threats – including Forest Degradation, urbanization, and energy infrastructure – that bird species face across the country.
  • Environmental pollutants including veterinary drugs such as nimesulide still threaten vulture populations in India.
  • Impacts of Climate Change (such as on migratory species), avian disease, and illegal hunting and trade are also among the major threats.
• Other Species:
  • Sarus Crane has rapidly declined over the long term and continues to do so.
  • Of the 11 species of woodpeckers for which clear long-term trends could be obtained, seven appear stable, two are declining, and two are in rapid decline.
    • The Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, inhabiting widespread thorn and scrub forests, has declined by more than 70% in the past three decades.
  • While half of all bustards worldwide are threatened, the three species that breed in India – the Great Indian Bustard, the Lesser Florican, and the Bengal Florican – have been found to be most vulnerable.

What are the Recommendations?

• There is a need to conserve specific groups of birds. For instance, the report found that grassland specialists have declined by more than 50% – indicating the importance of protecting and maintaining grassland ecosystems.
• Systematic monitoring of bird populations over long periods of time is critical to understanding small-scale changes in bird populations.
• It is becoming clearer the need for more research to understand the reasons behind the declines or increases.
• The report's findings emphasize the importance of habitat preservation, addressing pollution, and understanding the dietary requirements of birds in order to reverse the decline of bird populations and ensure a healthier ecosystem.

What Can be done to Ensure the Viable Population of the Birds in the Ecosystem?

• Habitat Conservation and Restoration:
  • Protect and preserve natural habitats, such as forests, wetlands, grasslands, and coastal areas, that are essential for birds' nesting, feeding, and breeding.
  • Restore degraded habitats by planting native vegetation and removing invasive species that can threaten bird populations.
• Protected Areas and Reserves:
  • Establish and manage protected areas and wildlife reserves where birds can thrive without human disturbances.
  • Implement regulations and guidelines to prevent habitat destruction and disturbances in these areas.
• Reducing Pollution:
  • Control pollution sources, including air and water pollution, that can harm bird populations directly or through the contamination of their food sources.
  • Promote sustainable practices to minimize pollution in urban and industrial areas.
• Mitigating Climate Change:
  • Address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable energy sources.
  • Support habitat corridors that allow birds to move and adapt to changing climatic conditions.
• Limiting Human Disturbances:
  • Educate the public about the importance of minimizing disturbances to nesting and feeding sites, particularly during breeding seasons.
  • Establish buffer zones around sensitive bird habitats to reduce human interference.

What Measures Have Been Taken to Safeguard Different Bird Species?

• National Action Plan for the Conservation of Migratory Birds (2018-2023)
• Transboundary protected areas for conservation of species like Tigers, Asian elephants, Snow Leopard, the Asiatic Lion, the one-horned rhinoceros, and the Great Indian Bustard.
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
• India has taken several steps to conserve vultures like imposing a ban on the veterinary use of diclofenac, establishment of Vulture breeding centres, etc.