Latest news with #Birds2023
The Hindu
22-07-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Citizen science data-backed study reveals widespread decline in India's birds
A recent study has revealed a significant decline in many of India's bird species, underscoring the urgent need for targeted and sustained conservation efforts. The State of India's Birds 2023 report, produced by a consortium of leading research institutions and conservation organisations, assesses the status of 942 bird species using data contributed by thousands of birdwatchers through the eBird citizen science platform. According to the report, 204 species have suffered long-term decline, and 142 are currently declining. 'Our findings reveal a sobering truth — India's diverse bird populations are facing significant decline, underscoring an urgent need for concerted conservation efforts,' said Vivek Ramachandran, Fellow, Wildlife Biology and Conservation Programme at NCBS, and an author of the study. Alarming trends The report represents one of the largest biodiversity monitoring efforts in the global south. It classified 178 species as 'high conservation priority', 323 as 'moderate priority', and 441 as 'low priority.' Birds with specialised diets, such as those feeding on vertebrate prey, carrion, or invertebrates, have declined the most, averaging over 25% long-term population loss. In contrast, species dependent on fruits or nectar have remained stable or even increased. Habitat specialists from grasslands, scrublands, and wetlands have experienced the steepest declines. Winter migrants to India have also declined more sharply than resident species, raising further alarm. Innovations in data handling According to a communique from NCBS, one of the main challenges of using eBird data is the variable effort put in by citizen scientists. Rather than standardising birding duration or distance, the team standardised analyses based on the number of species reported per checklist, which improved the comparability of data. All the software and analytical methods developed for the project are open source, allowing researchers worldwide to build upon them. 'The analysis leveraged citizen science data from the eBird platform and developed a robust methodology to clean, organise, and analyse this semi-structured data to overcome biases. This framework allowed for the assessment of a larger number of bird species than previously possible and is intended to serve as a blueprint for regions with limited resources for traditional surveys,' said Mr. Ramachandran.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
No love, no chicks, only extinction? Gujarat tries scented decoys to woo loveless lesser floricans
This monsoon, wildlife officials in Gujarat are trying everything they can to save the critically endangered lesser florican, the world's smallest bustard bird. With fewer than 900 birds left in India, according to the State of India's Birds 2023 report, the risk of extinction is growing fast. After a complete breeding failure last year, conservationists at the Conservation Breeding Centre (CBC) in Velavadar National Park , near Ahmedabad, are now turning to a surprising method, using fake female birds. According to a TOI report, experts are placing cotton-stuffed cloth effigies painted to look like real female floricans. These decoys are even treated with female scent collected from the wild to make them more convincing. The goal? To collect semen from male birds for artificial insemination, a technique inspired by houbara bustard breeding projects in the UAE. Courtship crisis: What went wrong? Last year, despite the male floricans performing elaborate mating dances, the females attacked them instead of responding positively. 'The males did everything right last season,' said Dr Yash Baraiya, the centre's veterinary doctor. 'But the females were not receptive, they were aggressive and stopped any chance of mating.' This strange behaviour left the team puzzled and desperate. Now, the hope is that these female-like decoys can encourage the males to release semen, which can then be used to fertilise unfertilised eggs laid by the captive females. Breeding successes and setbacks Since the CBC was set up in 2020, the team has rescued eggs at risk due to rain, farming work, or predators. They've managed to hatch 16 chicks, of which 12 have grown into adults, 6 males and 6 females. But unless they start reproducing, all this effort might go in vain. Live Events 'Collecting semen is tricky,' Dr Baraiya told TOI. 'The male birds are very shy. Even small disturbances can stop them from mating behaviour. But if we get it right, we can carry out artificial insemination during the females' fertile phase.' Learning from Rajasthan's Great Indian Bustard Project Officials are also looking to Rajasthan for help. The Great Indian Bustard Breeding Centre in Sudasri, Jaisalmer, has seen successful artificial insemination. Now, Gujarat's forest department has asked for permission to send its vet team there for training. 'We want to adapt their methods for the lesser florican,' said Nilesh Joshi, assistant conservator of forests at Velavadar National Park. Blending nature with science While artificial insemination is one option, the team is also trying to create a natural environment to encourage natural mating. Marvel grass, preferred by floricans for nesting, has been planted, and artificial shelters have been set up. The birds are monitored round the clock with 360-degree cameras to spot illness or injury. Inputs from TOI
Time of India
09-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Gujarat has a ‘stimulus' plan for loveless lesser floricans
This monsoon, conservation experts in the state are racing against time to save the critically endangered lesser florican, the world's smallest bustard. After witnessing a complete breeding failure last year, they are now deploying an unusual strategy involving female decoys to attract male birds. At the Conservation Breeding Centre (CBC) in Velavadar National Park, 150km from Ahmedabad, the wildlife officials are preparing cotton-stuffed cloth effigies treated with female scent to collect semen from male birds, a technique borrowed from houbara bustard breeding programmes in the UAE. The desperate measure comes after an unprecedented courtship crisis last monsoon — while the males put up a stellar show, the females not only rejected their advances but also attacked them. With fewer than 900 lesser floricans remaining across India, according to the State of India's Birds 2023 report, the sexual standoff halts reproduction and pushes the lesser floricans further towards extinction. Since 2020, when the CBC was set up for the lesser floricans, conservationists have salvaged eggs at risk from rainwater ingress, agricultural activity and predators, successfully hatching 16 chicks through artificial incubation. Currently, 12 have reached adulthood: six males and six females. But successful hatching means nothing if the birds won't breed. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad "The males did everything right last season," says Dr Yash Baraiya, the centre's veterinary doctor. "We watched them transform and perform their elaborate courtship dances, but the females became aggressive instead of receptive. They attacked the males and prevented any mating attempts." This monsoon, determined not to witness another failure, the officials have crafted a clever decoy: a cotton-stuffed cloth effigy resembling a female, with wood used as needed for structure. Painted to look lifelike and adorned with real feathers, the effigy is treated with authentic female scent collected from the field. The technique, successfully tested on houbara bustards in the UAE, addresses the inexplicable hostility of the females by offering males 'a receptive partner', thus allowing officials to collect semen. However, the challenge is immense. "The females are laying unfertilized eggs, which confirms their reproductive readiness. Collecting semen from the timid male birds, though, is delicate work. Any disturbance will cause them to shut down completely. But if we can successfully collect semen, we can artificially inseminate the females during their fertile window," Baraiya adds. The team is also looking to Rajasthan for guidance. "Rajasthan has achieved remarkable success with artificial insemination in the Great Indian Bustard," says Nilesh Joshi, assistant conservator of forests at Velavadar National Park. "We have requested the Gujarat govt to arrange for our veterinary team to visit the Sudasri Breeding Centre in Jaisalmer to learn their techniques, which could be adapted for our florican breeding programme. " However, forest officials are not relying on artificial methods alone. They are also planning to introduce wild lesser florican pairs to breed with the captive population, adjusting pairings based on the birds' interactions. The centre has created a natural forest-like environment using marvel grass, which the birds prefer for nesting. Artificial shelters provide protected nesting areas, while 360-degree cameras monitor the birds continuously for signs of illness or injury. The lesser florican's future now depends on blending the artificial with the authentic, whatever measures are necessary to ensure their survival.
