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Bad news for bird watchers

The bird population in Bombay and surrounding regions has shown an alarming decline over the past quarter century, causing concern among ornithologists and bird lovers.

More than 40 of the 269 recorded species and sub-species have shown a dramatic fall in population, wildlife conservationist Sunjoy Monga says. These include woodland species and more than a dozen others. His research in Bombay and neighbouring areas is based on sightings and call-notes.

Be it in the Sanjay Gandhi national park, the adjoining Karnala bird santuary, or the birds found near the lakes in Mumba, the avian population in general has shown a sharp downward trend. Bombay Natural History Society public relations officer Issar Kehimkar said habitat destruction is one of the major causes which led to the extinction of several species all over the country.

In Bombay, high rise buildings and the reduction in green patches forced several species and sub-species to migrate. ''Several migratory birds coming to Bombay from other parts of the country now head for other destinations,'' he regretted.

The latest edition of the quarterly Hornbill, a BNHS publication, has pressed serious concern over the diminishing population of various species and called for protection of forests, wetlands and coastal bio-system of the metropolis. Drastic habitat changes especially along Bombay's coastal tracts and the numerous creeks and inter-tidal zones have contributed to quantitative and qualitative decline.

However, bird-watchers have praised the efforts of the state government to develop the shoreline as a stretch of forest. The dream project conceived by architect Hafeez Contractor will definitely improve the environment in Bombay and attract more birds to the city. This is expected to increase the avian population also, they feel.

The deputy conservator of forests of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, A R Bharti in a paper presented at a recent seminar organised by the Federation of Environment and Development Organisation, stressed the need to increase mangroves along the marshy lands of the city. Mangrove forests give shelter to a variety of birds. Some of them are egret, heron, ibis, kingfisher, tern and sea-eagle.

UNI

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