Udaipur’s ‘unique landscape’ houses over 200 bird species

Jaipur: Udaipur, renowned for its picturesque lakes and nestled in the Aravalli hills of northwestern India, is emerging as an important biodiversity hotspot. Despite rapid urbanisation, the city is providing valuable lessons in urban wildlife conservation.A recent research study recorded an impressive 208 bird species within Udaipur, significantly higher than those documented in larger Indian cities such as Delhi. This highlights Udaipur's capacity to support diverse bird habitats even as the city experiences growth. The study emphasises Udaipur's unique landscape, which includes scrub forests, lakes, grasslands, and agricultural fields, as a crucial factor in supporting this rich birdlife.KS Gopi Sundar, one of the authors of the study titled ‘Characteristics of Bird Niches in a Small Indian City: Effect of Migratory Status, Season, and Environmental Variables', said, "Our study suggests that smaller cities can potentially house far more bird species than larger ones. This research also fills a gap in the study of bird behaviour in semi-arid regions of India. For the first time, we've shown several species, like two species of fantails (Rhipidura sp.), to be widely distributed in a small city. House Sparrows were among the most common bird species in Udaipur, consistent with findings in other Indian cities. Interestingly, we found Egyptian Vultures, an endangered species, to be more common in urban areas, indicating the presence of an overlooked population in cities across South Asia."In comparison to other cities, Delhi's bird surveys documented 115 species over two years and 173 species during a study on urban ponds. Udaipur's tally of 208 species far exceeds these numbers, suggesting that smaller cities like Udaipur may support more diverse bird communities than their larger, more densely populated counterparts.The study also highlights the seasonal behaviour of birds, with migratory species arriving in winter and enhancing the city's biodiversity. "Udaipur's varied landscape, a mix of urban and natural habitats, facilitates these seasonal shifts. The lowest species richness was observed in summer (137 species) and monsoon (153 species), while winter saw a rise to 180 species. Notably, 16 of the recorded species are of global conservation concern, including two endangered species: the Egyptian Vulture and six vulnerable species," the study reports.