Experts flag habitat loss behind fall in migratory bird population

Patna: Even as recent initiatives by the state govt have led to a rise in bird numbers at some well-managed sites, the broader trend over the past few decades points towards a steady decline in migratory birds visiting Bihar’s sanctuaries and wetlands.As the state marks World Migratory Birds Day on Sunday, bird lovers and ornithologists have expressed concern over the falling numbers, blaming habitat degradation and deteriorating water quality in wetlands.Reports indicate that nearly 60% of bird species in Bihar have declined over the past three decades, with migratory species, shorebirds and ducks witnessing the sharpest fall.Bombay Natural History Society national executive member Arvind Mishra said north Bihar, with its wetlands and floodplains of major rivers, had long remained one of the most preferred destinations for migratory birds arriving from the upper Himalayas.He said Kanwar Lake in Begusarai, once regarded as a haven for migratory birds, was now facing severe threats due to encroachment. Increasing use of chemicals in farming and discharge of untreated sewage into wetlands had also damaged feeding grounds for birds, he added.A recent study conducted at Rajdhani Jalasaya in Patna earlier this year found that the number of migratory birds in the sanctuary had declined sharply from nearly 5,000 to just 150.Experts said migratory birds play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance as natural pest controllers, pollinators and seed dispersers across continents.Life scientist and former joint director of the Zoological Society of India Gopal Sharma said migratory birds consumed large quantities of insects, helping protect crops and forests naturally from pests such as locusts.“As they move between regions, they facilitate plant reproduction and spread seeds over long distances, crucial for maintaining forest biodiversity,” he said.Sharma added that bird droppings enriched ecosystems with nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium, while the arrival and movement of migratory birds also served as indicators of healthy wetlands and ecosystems.Forest department officials said the govt had launched several measures to reverse the declining trend. More than 4,000 wetlands have been identified to create a conservation baseline, while awareness campaigns are also being conducted to prevent hunting and poaching of migratory birds.