Context

Recently, a new scientific report, ‘State of India’s Birds 2020 was jointly released by 10 organisations.

About

• State of India’s Birds 2020 (SoIB) was produced using a base of 867 species.
• It is analysed with the help of data uploaded by birdwatchers to the online platform, eBird.
• Adequate data on how birds fared over a period of over 25 years (long-term trend) are available only for 261 species.
• Current annual trends are calculated over a five-year period.
• The assessment says that
  • Over a fifth of India’s bird diversity has suffered strong long-term declines over a 25-year period.
  • More recent annual trends point to a drastic 80% loss among several common birds.

Key findings:

• The State of India’s Birds 2020 (SoIB) assessment raises the alarm that several spectacular birds, many of them endemic to the sub-continent, face a growing threat from loss of habitat due to:
  • Human activity.
  • The widespread presence of toxins, including pesticides.
  • Hunting and trapping for the pet trade.
• It is highlighted that, for every bird species that were found to be increasing in numbers over the long term, 11 have suffered losses, some catastrophically.
• 101 species have been categorised as being of High Conservation Concern.
  • 59 are based on range and abundance.
  • Rest are included from high-risk birds on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List.
• Endemics such as the Rufous-fronted Prinia, Nilgiri Thrush, Nilgiri Pipit and Indian vulture have been confirmed as suffering a current decline.
• All except 13 had a restricted or highly restricted range, indicating greater vulnerability to man-made threats.
• Among widely known species, the common sparrow, long seen as declining in urban spaces, has a stable population overall.
• The analysis concludes that raptors overall are in decline, with ‘open country’ species such as the Pallid and Montagu Harriers, White-bellied Sea Eagle and Red-necked Falcon suffering the most.
• The severe long-term decline of vultures is underscored by the report.
• Migratory shorebirds, along with gulls and terns, seem to have declined the most among waterbirds.

Suggestions by the report:

• An update to the Red List of endangered species published by IUCN using the SoIB.
• Collaborative research by scientists and citizens. Targeted research to pinpoint causes of decline.
• Urgent emphasis on habitats of species of high concern, notably grasslands, scrublands, wetlands and the Western Ghats.