SHABIHA NUR KHATOON
Gardens and parks in urban spaces that used to reverberate with the
animated chirruping of winged wonders wear a deserted look today. Some of the commonest species that were earlier spotted perched on windowsills are hard to come by in the brick-and-mortar jungles that we call cities. Sunday POST reports on a University of Exeter study linking the decline of garden birds to burgeoning stress levels among city dwellers
In today’s urbanised and highly mechanised world we seem to be trapped in a dense jungle of concrete, struggling to find our way towards sunlight and air through a maze of towering skyscrapers. Gone are the days when we were woken up by the melodious call of a tiny bird perched on the windowsill. In fact the unmelodious screeching of the digital alarm clock violently shakes us out of stupor these days. Watching the everyday activities of the multi-hued avian species – their carefree flight at midday with sunrays glistening on their feathery wings or hurried journey back to their leafy dwellings at sundown – afford some of the most serene moments of quiet pleasure to observant nature lovers.
A study carried out by the University of Exeter claims that people living in neighbourhoods frequented by different species of birds and filled with shrubs and trees are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and stress. The study, which surveyed mental health of people from different ages, incomes and ethnicities, found that those who spent less time outdoors than is desirable were more likely to report anxiety or depression.
Daniel Cox, a research fellow at the university, says, “Birds around the home and nature in general, show great promise in preventative health care, making cities healthier, happier places to live.”
Just as a flower leads a miserable existence without butterflies fluttering around it, so too a garden is barren without birds. But research papers published over the years show that the birds that visited our backyards once and lifted our spirits on a gloomy day with their joyous chirruping are fast declining in number.
Ahead of World Environment Day, Sunday POST speaks to ornithologists and nature lovers about the factors responsible for the rapid decline in the number of birds visiting gardens and parks in urban spaces and what this portends.
Shakti Nanda, founder of Open Wildlife Lounge, an organisation engaged in wildlife awareness and conservation activities in Orissa, discusses how birds help reduce stress levels. “Nature has always been a great source for stress relief and has been healing depression and anxiety since ages. Many researchers have proved this time and again. Watching birds and plants can provide significant mental health benefits. That even common species are becoming increasingly difficult to spot was one of the worrying findings of a study led by a team of researchers from the University of Exeter, the British Trust for Ornithology and the University of Queensland.”
“The call of birds, their curious habits and activities divert our attention and draw us towards nature,” he added. “Observing their ways not only brings peace of mind but also relieves the brain from the different problems of life.”
Nanda points out that rapid urbanisation has destroyed biodiversity and bird habitats and forced city-dwellers to live a mechanical life segregated from nature. Even human modes of interaction with nature have changed; rather than taking time out to admire the beautiful landscapes all around people love to feast their eyes on the majesty of nature flashing on their giant LED TV screens.
The factors responsible for the decline of garden birds are the following:
* Loss of habitat due to cutting down trees, expansion of infrastructure and rapid population growth are putting immense pressure on urban avifauna.
* Unavailability of food is a major problem. Garden birds are mostly dependent on trees, fruits, grains, insects and worms. Loss of open space, adoption of modern ways of cooking and waste disposal have taken a toll on birds. Significant changes have been observed in the ethology of urban birds. Scavenger birds have started hunting due to scarcity of food. Diurnal birds hunt at night. Drongoes hunt flies and insects on lampposts during the dark hours. Nesting habitats have also changed. Baya weavers have started building nests on high tension wires. Those who managed to fight and adapt to changes in habitat have changed themselves for survival. Those who couldn’t have had to quit their habitats and are lost in the thick jungle of urban concrete.
* Conservation with a conservative mindset has hampered any purposeful intervention till date. Numerous conservation efforts have been initiated by authorities and organisations to save urban avifauna but have failed to achieve desired goals due to lack of a logical and scientific approach. For example, approaches like providing food and grains to birds by placing feeders on strategic spots may sound great, but in the long run such practices lead to the psychological captivation of birds, as they lose their natural instinct for finding food. This may lead to the birds stopping to venture out for mates resulting in inbreeding. During hot summer days putting a water pot for birds in an open area is certainly a good idea, though. Conservation without a scientific approach could be counterproductive.
Nanda outlines a clutch of steps that could be taken to protect common avian species. These are:
* Changing attitudes towards conservation
* Stopping unnecessary infrastructural growth in the name of urbanisation
* Planting fruit-bearing trees in gardens attached with households and parks rather than planting decorative plants to attract birds
* Avoiding the felling of high canopy trees (especially nesting trees)
* Balancing biodiversity and urbanisation. Authorities should do proper analysis before implementing a measure. Alternative thinking is essential for environmental protection
* If birds build nests on your premises don’t break them. They will fly away shortly. A bit of natural intrusion wouldn’t create any hygienic havoc
Basanta Behura, a wildlife photographer at Mushroom, a city-based photography club, offers an insight into declining avian visitors that once animated lonely gardens. “Data shows there has been around 10-15 per cent decline in the arrival of common bird species. That the decline has been major is evident from disappearing sparrows, starlings, larks and Baya weavers. The reasons are habitat destruction and unsustainable development, absence of native and fruit-bearing plants, excess use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers, cutting down of small trees, bushes and grass, and beautification of gardens and botanical parks with decorative and unnatural plants.”
The wildlife photographer adds that the electromagnetic fields and radiation created by mobile towers also affect small birds like sparrows, starlings and mynahs.
Apart from habitat protection for birds, he recommends:
* Having a specific zone for nesting and breeding
* Planting big trees and developing urban gardens in coordination with agriculture and wildlife experts
* Setting up water baths, especially in summer, to allow birds to drink and bathe
* Abolishing the use of fertilisers and pesticides at parks and surrounding areas
* Ensuring proper disposal of garbage and urban waste in accordance with ecological guidelines
BIRDS AT RISK
House sparrows, starlings, Baya weavers and mynas are among the worst hit species in Orissa. House sparrows generally build their nests in thatched roofed houses. As concrete structures don’t allow such nesting, house sparrows are not much seen in urban or rural areas these days, says Nanda.
Garden birds that are spotted in Orissa are the common myna, black kite, common pigeon, rose-ringed parakeet, house crow, red-vented bulbul, red-whiskered bulbul, cattle egret, common tailorbird, oriental magpie robin, coppersmith barbet, brown-headed barbet, green bee-eater, black drongo, spotted dove, purple sunbird, Asian koel, shikra, white-breasted waterhen, common hawk cuckoo, southern coucal, barn owl spotted owlet, black-hooded oriole, rufous treepie, ashy prinia, Asian pied starling, chestnut-tailed starling, brahminy starling, purple-rumped sunbird, purple sunbird, black-headed munia, scaly-breasted munia, Indian roller, greater goldenback and lesser goldenback.
HARD TO SPOT
HOUSE SPARROW
The population of House sparrows is down by 70 per cent. Numbers have hit the rock bottom in England. There have been recent upturns in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland too.
Reasons
Not many survive their first winter, although studies cannot point to a single cause for this.
Preferred habitat for House sparrows are nests in gardens and dense hedges.
STARLING
The rate of starlings is on the decline since the late 1960s.
Reasons
Less food availability in the countryside, both for resident birds and winter migrants from eastern Europe.
Starlings look for farmland with grassland where they can probe for leatherjackets and beetles.
SONG THRUSH
Another species on the decline since the late 1960s
Reasons
Loss of hedgerows and wet ditches.
Their preferred habitat is open woodlands, parks and large gardens.
MARSH TIT
Marsh tit needs woodlands to breed.
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER
This species needs tall trees and sunny glades, with lots of flying insects.
BULLFINCH
The bullfinch needs tall, dense hedges with berries, seed-rich margins and fruit buds that blossom in spring. Existing urban conditions are, therefore, highly uninviting.