Why a bird aviary in Nagar Van is a bad idea

Simmi Waraich

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On April 24, 2018, a small natural forest — Nagar Van — was inaugurated by Governor VP Singh Badnore in the presence of MP Kirron Kher. The city forest was established under the Nagar Van Udyan Yojana, which is an urban forestry scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, New Delhi.

It aims at creating at least one forest in each city having a Municipal Corporation for providing a wholesome, healthy living environment contributing to the growth of a smart, clean, green and healthy city. It also aims to sensitise people towards the conservation of natural resources.

The forest in Nagar Van is spread over 100 hectares and cost Rs 2 crore. The land here was transferred to the Forest Department in lieu of other forest land being used for development elsewhere in Chandigarh.

The basic aim was to create a natural forest with local flora and fauna. As a result, the area is replete with Acacia (Kikar), Eucalyptus, Khair, Mango, Shahtoot, Semal, Dhak, Musquit, Peepal trees, etc. Shallow water bodies were created and natural purifiers such as gravel, rice straws used to filter the water.

Soon, bird-watching walks were started here every third Sunday of the month where members of the Chandigarh Bird Club would show adults and children who registered for the walk common birds of the region like Lineated Barbet, Drongos, Coppersmith Barbets, Sandpipers, Common Hawk Cuckoo, Asian Koel, Pipits, Long-tailed Shrikes, Wagtails, etc.

In the winter, Cinereous Tits, Grey-headed Canary Flycatchers, the gorgeous scarlet and yellow Long-tailed Minivets, Fantails, Grey Bushchats, Red breasted and Tickell’s Flycatchers fly in from higher altitudes and imbue the trees with their resplendent colours and calls.

Karmannye Chaudhary, a passionate teenager with a love for birding, recorded 85 species in January this year and 108 species in February last year. These include the Booted Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Hair-crested Drongos, Common Rosefinch and even the rare Mountain Hawk Eagle.

The crested Serpent Eagle is a beautiful sight perched on one of the dead trees or taking off majestically into the air. The Pied Hornbill, of which three have been frequently sighted in Nagar Van, has unfortunately become elusive now ever since the landscaping began in the area. They had been looking for a tree to nest in but the construction and clearing of the forest area have denied them this.

The concept of a natural forest in a city which abounds with parks was a valuable addition and provided city folk with its own little wilderness, a sublime respite from the concrete which is fast spreading into the farms in Mohali, Mullanpur, etc, and swallowing them as highrise buildings come up nineteen to the dozen. It is a reminder of what we used to have and what we are losing.

This year the Annual Bird Race in which teams of four birdwatchers reconnoitre areas in the vicinity of Chandigarh and Nagar Van reported up to 189 species of birds. The elusive blue-bearded Bee-eater visited Nagar Van and had avid bird lovers drooling over its blue beard.

What is of concern is that in a free forest area, a bird aviary, that is a bird zoo, is coming up. Trees, brambles, reeds have been cleared, displacing many native birds and reptiles and instead captive birds will be brought here. The cacophony of captive birds, besides turning a forest into a zoo like Chhatbir, will create traffic snarls, with people littering in the little that is left of Nagar Van.

In a way, it is sounding the death knell for the little forest that had come up and the many species of birds and animals which had taken up residence there. It is heartbreaking to see the forest area being landscaped. There are already many landscaped parks in Chandigarh. As for the aviary, there are many voices which are completely against captivity for animals and birds and it could have been avoided.

Many cannot bear to see birds, the very epitome of freedom as they soar in the sky, in captivity and it will be a sad day for all bird lovers the day it does come up. Birds in cages are the very antithesis of a natural forest and the two next to each other will be an ironical juxtaposition.