Habitat loss, use of chemicals hitting bird population, say environmentalists

Experts working at the grassroots level to make the city and its surroundings clean and green are of the view that loss of habitat, destruction of biodiversity on a large scale and excess spraying of pesticides, insecticide and herbicides are a major reason behind the drastic fall in the number of small birds including house sparrows, doves, partridges and quails (bater). Sighting of butterflies and traditional honeybees has also become rare.

Environmentalist PS Bhatty said that these small birds inhabit thorny shrubs and trees such as Beri, Keekar and Malha. They also like Jand and Vann trees in dry land. Uncultivated land is usually full of these trees but in the past two decades, the habitats of these birds were destroyed and they could not multiply with the result that in a few years, their population has been reduced to near extinction.

The life span of a sparrow is four to six years and it weighs 25 to 40 grams. It feeds on insects and plays a very important role in maintaining biodiversity. Partridges (Teetars) and quails (bater) are wild small birds and they are omnivorous. They can eat small grains and insects too.

According to Dr Baljit Singh Dhillon, a second reason is the spraying of pesticides, insecticide and herbicides which destroy their food. Another reason is the arrival of non-native trees, plants and crops which they were not accustomed to. Fourthly, house sparrows used to construct their nest in houses and straw thatched roofs called ‘Chhapar’ but now in modern houses, no holes, cavity or niches are available for them to lay eggs. These are the causes why these small birds are disappearing.

The sighting of native species of butterflies and honeybees has also reduced due to heavy spray of poisonous chemicals that have entered the soil, plants and the nectarine flowers, observed Prof Amarjit Singh Sidhu. Nectarines are glands, the base of flower petals from where all butterflies draw nectar to survive. Through studies and testing of nectar, it has been found that pesticides have largely entered the nectar that has killed butterflies.