It was the COVID pandemic that made me go searching for my previous copy of the Ebook of Indian Birds by Dr. Salim Ali. Name it boredom or renewed appreciation for the power to go round open air freely, the e-book was re-read with gusto. Subsequent got here a set of binoculars to see away at birds from my balcony, after which as the primary indicators of opening up started exhibiting, a visit to the pristine city of Mcleodganj bought me effectively and really again into the birding fold.

I quickly realized in regards to the EBird portal the place birding lovers doc their chook sightings by means of ‘checklists’. Evidently, I used to be immediately hooked on to the thought of making a repository of my birding trails, one thing that my 20-year earlier self wouldn’t have given two hoots about.

As I expanded the scope of my birding from the balcony to native hotspots and from there on, to planning particular birding journeys with educated naturalists in several states throughout the nation, all that knowledge collated from sightings over three years began exhibiting patterns.

It’s knowledge like this that has been meticulously uploaded by fellow birders on which the findings of the lately launched State of India’s Birds 2023 Report (SOIB) relies on. Some 30,000+ birders contributed 30 million observations that have been analysed for traits and distribution patterns.

The SOIB report brings out some sobering info about how near 60% of chook species have began to point out a decline in numbers throughout the nation.

Whereas species that inhibit a selected sort of habitat equivalent to grasslands are exhibiting essentially the most important drop in numbers, these which can be impacted by unfettered urbanisation are additionally a trigger for concern.

One other key discovering of this report is round migratory birds that grace Indian wetlands with their presence throughout the winter season. As soon as generally sighted species such because the Eurasian Curlew at the moment are exhibiting a gentle decline. Three species of the bustard household, specifically – the Nice Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican and Bengal Florican now face imminent extinction.

The concept that we might be witnessing this tragedy because it unfolds is tough to make peace with.

The report additionally calls out a mixture of threats starting from the overarching world local weather change to extra localised land use change in area of interest habitats which can be answerable for the decline in numbers.

It lays out a state-specific listing of key species whose conservation must be prioritised. This listing has birds such because the Nilgiri Wooden Pigeon (Maharashtra), the Indian Skimmer (NCT of Delhi), Western Tragopan (Himachal Pradesh) and the Malabar Gray Hornbill (Goa) amongst many others.

Satirically, a few of these species are already carrying the tag of ‘State Birds’ and but proceed to be on the receiving finish of our collective apathy.

Whereas all isn’t misplaced with generally sighted species such because the Indian Peafowl and Asian Koel. Even with them exhibiting important enhance in numbers, one can’t ignore the truth that the highs are too few and the low too worrisome.

As travellers, we are able to play an vital half in reversing a few of these traits. We will speak to individuals about this in a manner that they perceive what’s at stake. We will aspire to be taught extra about distinctive avian species once we plan our subsequent offbeat journey and most significantly, we are able to encourage a change in perspective in direction of defending our feathered pals by means of our attain.

In regards to the writer: Ranjeet Rane is a Pune based mostly tech coverage marketing consultant. He has a eager curiosity in all the pieces that has wings — birds, butterflies and airplanes!