How do we bring our feathered friends back?

Are we, the humans, causing irreparable damage to the wildlife surrounding us?

One or two years ago, the trees right opposite my house were alive with birds – Red-Whiskered Bulbuls,white-Cheeked Barbets, Purple-Rumped Sunbirds, Mynas, Koels and Pale-Billed Flowerpeckers. It was a sense of hapiness to see them in the morning, flitting from one branch to the other – especially the Bulbul pair, and the Mynas.

Now, in 2013, they have all gone. Disappeared. Only a few Mynas and the occasional Koel show up. Rarely do I hear those beautiful calls of the birds I loved the most; the city’s most common avian residents. Are these birds heading for the same fate as that of the House Sparrow? The area where I loved, R T Nagar, was not the only place where I saw a reduction. The Hebbal lake is host to a number of spoon-billed Pelicans before and during winter. Now, for almost a year and a half, their absence is morbid. Where did they go?

Of course, the main reason is – human interference. Of late, there have been more and more fishermen scouring the waters of the Hebbal Lake for fish. Whether it has always been the same or the number has increased is not sure. But the problem remains.

Too much human interferecne around the lake may have deterred the Pelicans from nesting there. As to the other birds, it is unsure. That has been a lot of constructional work on in the area, especially laying new electrical poles. I’m sure this had something to do with it. But there is little we can do.

The issue is minute compared to the bigger problems the government faces like bad roads, decreasing living space, inflation, etc. The governments’ more immediate interest would be in solving these problems first. But we as bird-lovers may be able to do something to bring our beloved feathered friends back. It will be dificult. But it can be done.

Related Articles

Pelicans seen in plenty
Lots of birds at Kaikondrahalli Lake
Migratory birds being poached in Bangalore water bodies

Comments:

  1. Deepa Mohan says:

    Nice article, Abhilash! The issue is not minute at all….the absence of the birds will impact our quality of life in many direct and indirect ways. Keep up the writing!

  2. Abhilash.P says:

    Thanks so much ma’am πŸ™‚

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Similar Story

Unplanned growth, flawed notification endanger Delhi wetlands

Increased public involvement and lessons from successful restoration attempts can help revive the crucial wetlands under threat in the city.

Have you been to the Surajpur wetland, near Surajpur village in Gautam Budh Nagar district? Located in the midst of an expansive industrial city under the administrative purview of the Greater Noida Development Authority, it reveals itself as a mosaic of a sprawling lake, towering trees and thousands of birds, many flying in from distant lands. As you enter the wetland, the guards tell you not to go beyond the second viewpoint. It is untamed territory, the domain of many wild animals, they warn.  However, all has not been well in this sanctuary of nature. In January 2024, the Uttar…

Similar Story

Lake Health Index reveals pollution concerns in Bengaluru’s water bodies

The citizen-driven Lake Health Index project assessed the condition of three lakes in the city: Ulsoor, Doddabommasandra and Shivapura.

Bengaluru grapples with a persistent water stress, worsened by the decline in rainfall, overexploitation of groundwater and decreasing Cauvery River levels. The water crisis has led experts and the government to reconsider using lakes as a source of water, either by storing treated wastewater or harvested rainwater. The draining of lakes, like Bellandur and Varthur, for desilting has contributed to a major part of the groundwater crisis in Bengaluru. However, with the upcoming monsoon predicted to be normal, there is a looming concern regarding the lakes in the city. The anticipated rains may bring one of the highest influxes of…