Once rare species, now a frequent sight, courtesy lockdown

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 28

While on one hand life has come to a standstill in the wake of lockdown, on the other hand people are actually able to experience life with several birds being sighted frequently.

What is catching the interest of residents are spring birds such as copper smith barbet, purple sunbird, brown headed barbet, lesser golden back woodpecker and grey hornbill, seen around in Jalandhar, Kapurthala and surrounding areas.

Experts cite ample space as the reason for frequent visits by the birds, among many other species. Before lockdown, humans had encroached into the habitat of many species, but now, the latter can be seen reclaiming the streets.

Reportedly, peacocks, koyals and lapwings were also sighted.

Gitanjali Kanwar, coordinator, rivers, wetlands and water policy, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India, explained that the birds were getting enough food and space, the two essentials for their survival, which was why they were often being seen around. “Copper smith barbet, brown headed barbet, hornbill, are fruit-eating birds and rarely feed on insects,” she said.

Gitanjli said: “Post lockdown, there is enough space, no traffic and no noise pollution, thus peafowls are coming back to the residential areas.”

About golden back woodpecker, she said the bird fed on trees and was an insect-eating specie.

Jaswant Singh, Block Officer, Wildlife, from Jalandhar and Kapurthala, who clicked pictures of the birds at varied locations in different areas said the birds had moved away from cities because of unfavourable climatic conditions.

Phillaur Khushwinder Singh Gill, District Forest Officer, Wildlife, said the return of birds was a testimony of clean and favourable climatic conditions.