Big Bird Day brings some cheer in the Capital

A bird census conducted on Monday at the Garhimandu City Forest revealed a recovery in the number of species spotted for the first time in four years.

The annual census, conducted at the forest located on the eastern bank of River Yamuna on the Big Bird Day, recorded 51 species, an increase from last year's 43 sightings. The census recorded six migratory and five resident water and water-dependent birds on dried wetland. Of the 40 terrestrial birds, 34 resident and six migratory species were counted.

No IUCN red-listed threatened species have been recorded at Garhimandu City Forest in the last two years.

This is the first time in four years the numbers have seen a revival. In 2016, 43 species were counted; in 2015, the number was 53. While 2014 results recorded 79 species, 2013 had 91.

Migratory birds from north Asia like Wood Sandpiper, Temminck's Stint, Common Snipe, and southwestern Asia and Himalaya region's Citrine Wagtail and Grey Wagtail were spotted in the census.

Terrestrial birds like European Starling (seen above) from southwestern Asia, Sulphur-bellied Warbler from western Asia and the Himalayas, Lesser Whitethroat from western and central Asia, Red-breasted Flycatcher (seen below) from central Asia, Black Redstart from Europe and central Asia, and Common Chiffchaff from temperate Europe and Asia are some of the bird species registered in the census.

Increased human interference from rapid population growth, change in the ecosystem due to urbanisation, and global warming have led to a decline in the bird species, experts rued.

The census also highlighted that the surrounding natural wetland had dried up, leading to a loss of habitat.