Three Indian endemic bird species almost extinct

Seventy-eight out of 1353 bird species in India are endemic to the country; three of them are critically endangered, according to a new book by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), as reported by Mongabay-India.

The report adds that India is home to 12.40% of the global bird diversity; 1353 bird species out of 10,906 documented globally are from India. The country has 78 endemic bird species. Of the bird species existing in the country, 28 are found only in the Western Ghats, 25 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, four in the Eastern Himalayas, and one each in the Southern Deccan Plateau and Central Indian Forest, as per the new book, ‘75 Endemic Birds of India’, by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).

Authored by Dhriti Banerjee, Amitava Majumder and Anindya Naskar, the book commemorates 75 years of Indian independence. Speaking to Mongabay-India about the motivation behind bringing out a book on the endemic bird species of the country, Amitava Majumder said that despite the rich bird diversity, there is a scarcity of information about these birds and their habitats. The idea was to bring attention to these unique bird species to raise awareness and encourage conservation efforts.

Majumdar had also told PTI on the occasion of the release that according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorisation, 25 of the 78 bird species, which are found only in India, are classified as ‘threatened’. He added that 78 bird species are found only in the country’s geographical region and commemorating the 75th year of Indian Independence year, they have focussed on 75 such species in the book.

As detailed by the Mongabay-India, the book takes the readers on an exploration of India’s avifauna through engaging descriptions, magnificent visuals, and important ecological insights. It packs details, including the etymology of bird names and their historical relevance along with vital facts such as subspecies differences, distinguishing traits, preferred habitats, breeding habits and food preferences. The book also comes with maps indicating species distribution. It outlines the endemicity of Western Ghats which is home to species such as the Malabar grey hornbill, the Malabar parakeet, the Ashambu laughing thrush, the white-bellied sholakili, the Nilgiri pipit and more. Some birds endemic to another bird paradise, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, include the Nicobar megapode, the Nicobar serpent eagle and the Andaman crake.

The ZSI conducts two main types of surveys — species-specific ones as well as region or protected areas-focused surveys — throughout the year. While there are no endemic bird-specific surveys conducted for the book, the results were collated from regular surveys that include endemic species as well. The ZSI is considering implementing more focused surveys exclusively for endemic species to gain deeper insights into their specific needs and challenges to aid conservation efforts.

Among the 78 endemic bird species, 25 are classified as threatened as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorisation. Specifically, three species are listed as critically endangered, five as endangered, and 17 as vulnerable. Additionally, 11 endemic species are categorised as near threatened. Out of 78 species, the book refers to three endemic species –  Manipur bush quail, Himalayan quail and Jerdon’s courser – only in the introduction as they have not been sighted in several decades, a critical concern for ecologists, Majumdar told Mongabay-India. Majumder considers habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation as the main reasons for the loss of bird diversity in India as endemic birds are uniquely adapted to specific, often small-scale ecosystems and any threat to the integrity of these ecosystems poses a grave threat to them.

Director of ZSI, Dhriti Banerjee said that due to their limited distribution, endemic species require specific conservation efforts to prevent their decline. “Our aim is to popularise the value of birds pivotal in maintaining ecological balance. This publication endeavours to enrich people’s understanding of their importance while also highlighting our country’s vibrant fauna,” she said.

Researchers in an earlier international study published their findings in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) had found that found climate change to have more worrisome effects on larger birds and migratory birds than on smaller, sedentary species. Assessing changes in the annual production of young by female breeders in 201 populations of 104 bird species covering all continents between 1970 and 2019, they found that climatic changes affect offspring production through compounded effects on ecological and life history traits of species.