Battling for life: It’s survival of the fittest for Mumbai’s birds..Ashwin Aghor

War rages on in the tree tops and skies, and some birds are facing extinction

Mumbai may be surging ahead in a bid to become a world class city, but in the process, is in danger of losing many of its birds that were once as much a part of the cityscape as the flyovers and skyscrapers. Sightings of birds like the cormorants, herons and egrets, chestnut-tailed starlings and rosy starlings are becoming increasingly rare. Despite claims of being home to 50-odd bird species, there is no official record of the bird population in the city.
The main reason for this, say experts, is rampant tree cutting that’s being allowed in the name of development. “The city once housed many beautiful birds, some of which have vanished; others are on verge of extinction,” says ornithologist Adesh Shivkar.
But a number of species like barn owls, crows and black kites appear to be thriving — their numbers have risen sharply over the last few years. “Birds like crows, rock pigeons and koels [cuckoos] have adapted well to urban life,” says Shivkar. The tonnes of garbage generated by the city is a boon for these birds. “The rapid increase in their population is a menace. Apart from threatening the existence of smaller birds like sparrows, crows and pigeons are a health hazard for human beings,” says Shivkar.

According to Girish Jathar, scientist in-charge of the ENVIS Centre of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), purple rumped sunbirds, common tailor birds, ashy rain wobblers, house sparrows and Indian robins are losing their natural habitat “because of the changing architecture and rampant tree cutting.”
Many of the city’s huge heronries in Bandra, Five Gardens in Matunga, Hindu Colony in Dadar and Navy Nagar in Colaba are losing ground in the face of urban development.

Other species like the Oriental white eye, the grey hornbill and the common flame back woodpecker, which, till two decades ago were seen all over the city, are now found only in Malabar and BARC Hills. Lack of awareness among the general public, says Shivkar, is another reason for the decline in the bird population. The BNHS has a total membership of 6,000 Mumbaikars, while London’s Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) over one million members. “No one is bothered about protecting the birds,” says Shivkar.

But the cries of these birds are being drowned by the cacophony of urban life, and few seem to be listening.

Urban Life: 1. The Common birds of the city are barn owls, crows, sparrows, rock pigeons, black kites, copper smith, barbets, tailor birds, koels, purple rumped sunbirds,common maina, fantail fly catchers, red vented bulbuls, cattle egrets, whitebreasted kingfishers. 2. The city has lost many species of birds because of rampant redevelopment. 3. Those living in flocks manage to survive, but others are facing extinction. 4. Crows and pigeons that feed from garbage dumps are increasing in numbers, threatening the survival of smaller birds. 5. The BNHS has a total membership of 6,000 Mumbaikars.   URL: http://epaper.dnaindia.com/epapermain.aspx?edorsup=Main&queryed=9&querypage=8&boxid=30999044&parentid=60285&eddate=03/19/2008