Habitat, birds
Sir: Since 2006, the second Saturday and Sunday of May is observed as World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) worldwide to turn public attention to the wonders of bird migration and the need to conserve them.
It is an annual awareness campaign highlighting the need for protection of migratory birds and their habitats. WMBD is jointly organised by two international wildlife treaties administered by UNEP ( United Nations Environment Programme) – the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Water birds (AEWA).
Migratory birds travel huge distances — sometimes tens of thousands of kilometers for resting, feeding, breeding and wintering. And the longest recorded migration is by the tiny Arctictern –a 113gm bird that follows zigzagging routes between Greenland and Antarctica every year. In the process, the Arctictern racks up about 71,000 frequent flier kilometres. Since the bird often lives for 30 years or more, researchers estimate that, over its lifespan, an arctictern migrates about 2.4million km —- a distance equal to 3 trips to moon and back. And the longest non-stop migrating bird is the Bar-tailed Goodwit — about 7,100 miles in 8 days.
Habitat is critical to the survival of every organism on Earth, including birds. Many sites that birds depend on are under threat from human activities, such as land reclamation, deforestation, damage to these sites through habitat fragmentation °radation.
Nature has endowed our state with two major sites of bird migration of international importance, the Chilika (Ramsar Convention site) and Bhittarkanika sanctuary. And these sites are also facing the same threats as encroachments by locals, deforestation, and over-exploitation of bird feeds (fish, crab etc.) for human consumption.
On the occasion of 10th WMBD, the theme is “ Restore Habitat, Restore Birds”.
On behalf of all nature and wildlife-loving fraternity, we (FAGUNE) appeal to all concerned to work for ensuing preservation of habitats, big or small, for our future generations, and allow birds to vanish into the sky, just as they had appeared from the sky, –though this is untimely — as migration into India is during the winter months.
Biraja Das, FAGUNE
Manual scavanging
Sir: To mark International Labour Day, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made an announcement revising the minimum wages of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers based on recommendations of the State Minimum Wages Advisory Committee. We appreciate such of his initiatives in the labour force, but wish he also took note of the work being done by safai karmacharis who clean our sewer systems. They go inside manholes, in inhuman conditions, and are risking their lives. Though manual scavenging is banned in the country, state government departments are continuing with this practice. This must stop.
KC Mohanty, Rausapatna, CUTTACK
