Transcript Slide 1
Birds of India ENVIS-Center Bombay Natural History Society What are Birds? • Warm blooded animals – body covered with feather – which can fly, swim and walk – lay eggs – shows parental care • They evolved from dinosaurs millions of years ago • The first bird is called as Archaeopteryx Some facts about the birds • Birds are found all over the world - Antarctic and Arctic to Deserts of Sahara and Kalhari, Tropical South America and Africa to Himalayan forest and Pelagic islands • They can tolerate extreme cold and extreme heat • They migrate long distances – Arctic Tern trips from North Pole to South Pole twice a year • Some migrate non-stop over the oceans – Bar-tailed Godwit • Some flies at very high altitude – Bar-headed Geese were observed at an altitude of 20,000 feet above sea level Diversity of the Birds • There are about 10,000 species of birds found all over the world • Of them 1400 species found in South Asia • 1200 found in India • 565 + found in Maharashtra • 350 found in and around Mumbai • According to our study there were 140 bird species in New Mumbai Indian Pond-heron Ardeola grayii • Very common bird found near water bodies • Mainly feeds on fish, frogs and aquatic insects • During breeding season get very attractive golden plumage Indian Shikra Accipiter badius • One of the common birds of prey found in countryside and in forests • Feeds on small birds, lizards and frogs • Specialised hunter and hunt the birds in midair. Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela • One of the huge birds of prey. Found mainly in well wooded streams in forests • Specialised in killing reptiles such as snakes and larger reptiles • Build huge nests on big trees White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus • Commonly found near water in marshes and swamps. • Known for its chorus call during breeding season • Its long legs and fingers enable it to walk on floating vegetaion Barn Owl Tyto alba • Wide spread through out the world. Except Antarctica and remote pelagic islands • Specialised rodent hunter. 90% food contains mice. • Very common bird in Mumbai Greater Coucal Centrops sinensis • Very strong and effective hunter feeds on various types of animals such as rats, lizards, frogs, insects and small birds • Member of cuckoo family but makes its own nest and takes care of the eggs and offsprings • Considered as good omen if seen during morning Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala • Common bird found in gardens and well wooded areas • Famous for its typical call from which it gots its name • Feeds especially on fig fruits White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis • Found near water bodies, streams, fields and water logged areas • Feeds on variety of animals such as fish, frogs, large insects, lizards, small snakes etc. • Known for its magnificent colours and patience for catching the prey Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis • As the name suggests it eats honey bees, wasps dragonflies and other insects. • Most of the hunting is carried out on wings • They live in small flocks and hunt together or solitarily • Very interesting roosting behaviour – they sit in closely tight flocks in green leafy trees. • Communal breeding sites Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis • Nests on Palmera Palms • Highly dependent on palm and could have co-evolved with it • Feeds in air itself live in large colonies • Nests on palm in colonies Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach • Local migrant to our region during winters • Small bird of prey feeds on insects, frogs, lizards and small birds • Peculiar habit of hanging the food remains on thorny bushes – therefore also called as Butcher Bird Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus (somervillei) • Live in groups of 7-9 birds. They are mainly members of same clan • Hunt in groups feeds on insects and berries • Communal nesting behaviour – 2-3 females lay eggs in single nest Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer • Commonly found in well wooded and moist areas. • Feeds on fruits, berries and occasionally on insects • Famous for Purple-rumped Sunbird Nectarinia zeylonica • One of the beautiful birds of India, found every where • Can be seen easily over the flowers sucking nectar • Works as pollinator for many flowering plants Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile • One of the smallest birds of India • Very active and agile bird • Very important factor in forest ecosystem works as pollinator for many flowering plants Oriental Magpie-robin Copsycus saularis • One of the songster birds of India • Prefers wooded areas • Feeds exclusively on insects • Male sings melodious songs during breeding season Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus • Commonly found in forested areas. • Famous for mimicking calls of other birds • Some times steals food from other birds by mimicking predators call Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda • Commonly found in forests and well wooded areas. • Hunt in pairs of parties • Predator of chicks and eggs of small birds Threatened Birds of India Why birds are threatened • Habitat Destruction • Expansion of Agriculture • Rapid Industrialization • Poaching and Trade • Global Warming and Climate Change Categories of threatened birds - Extinct – not seen at least for 50 years Critically Endangered – likely to be extinct Endangered – high risk of extinction Vulnerable – risk of extinction Near threatened – close to vulnerable Least Concern – not qualify any of the above Data deficient – no information available Threatened Birds Scenario Species World India Critically Endangered 181 9 Endangered 351 12 Vulnerable 674 59 Near Threatened 795 58 2001 138 Total Critically Endangered • In Central India we have 9 species of the birds which come under this category White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis • This species is widely distributed in India • Till late 1990 it was in abundant but declined rapidly • Cause – veterinary use of diclofenac for livestock Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus • This species is also widely distributed in India • Like White-backed Vultures their population declined rapidly after 1990 • Cause – veterinary use of diclofenac for cattle Jerdon's Courser Rhinptilus bitorquatus • This is endemic bird found in south-eastern Andhra Pradesh. Earlier known from few places in Central India from Godavari River basin. • Habitat specialist bird found only in scrub forest • Threats – habitat destruction because of human activities Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti • This bird is endemic to Satpuda Mountains known from only from six places in Central India. Because of the Forest Owlet, the Central Indian Forests come under Endemic Bird Area • Only found in dry deciduous forests • Threats – habitat destruction for fuel wood, illicit wood cutting, overgrazing and direct persecution by tribal Endangered • We have 12 bird species which come under this category Great Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps • Historically spread all over Indian subcontinent. Now restricted to only a few places in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh • Habitat specialist birds representative of Grassland • Threats – expansion of agriculture, habitat fragmentation, overgrazing, pesticides and hunting Vulnerable • We have 59 species which come under this category Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis • The species found all over India in large wetlands • The population is declining very fast • Threats – destruction of nesting habitat, drainage and pollution of wetlands and dearth of food Sarus Crane Grus antigone • Historically widespread all over south Asia and Australia. Now declining all over its range • Threats - primarily threatened by a combination of habitat loss and modification (owing primarily to agricultural expansion), pollution and persecution Near Threatened • We have 58 species which fall under this category Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala • Widespread and locally common resident in South east Asia • It frequents freshwater marshes, lakes and reservoirs, flooded fields, paddy fields, freshwater swamp forests, riverbanks, intertidal mudflats and saltpans • Threats - habitat loss, disturbance, pollution and hunting of adults and collection of eggs and nestlings from colonies is cause for concern Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor • Found only in Asia and African Continent • Every year 10% population decline is observed in Africa. It breeds in Little Run of Katch in Gujarat • After breeding, disperse over Indian Subcontinent • Threats – water pollution, disturbance to nesting sites and habitat destruction Thank You! • www.bnhsenvis.nic.in [email protected]