Urban Hyderabad fits just a few birds; palapitta depend dips to 4 in rains, finds survey

Rapid urbanisation seems to be steadily reshaping Hyderabad’s pure ecosystem, and its affect is clearly seen within the metropolis’s birdlife. A number of species such because the Red-vented Bulbul, Ashy Prinia, Spotted Dove, Purple Sunbird and Rock Pigeon have efficiently tailored to concrete environment and at the moment are among the many most generally distributed throughout parks, gardens, farmland and metropolis streets. However, within the core city localities, fowl variety has dropped sharply.

These are the findings of the primary and second phases of the survey for Hyderabad Bird Atlas 2025, which is being developed by Hyderabad Birding Pals, Deccan Birders and WWF-India. Results of the second survey, offered in Hyderabad on Sunday, recorded 218 fowl species throughout town, together with a number of of conservation significance.

The first survey was carried out in winter (February), adopted by the second within the monsoon (July). Four extra seasonal surveys are to be carried out earlier than the Hyderabad Bird Atlas is introduced out, providing a complete image of fowl distribution within the metropolis, from native species to migrants, whereas figuring out these of highest conservation concern. Long-term monitoring, they pressured, is important to trace inhabitants developments and body efficient safety methods.

For occasion, the survey famous a pointy seasonal variation within the numbers of Telangana’s State fowl — the Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis) — with 26 recorded in winter however solely 4 throughout the monsoon, indicating a a lot decrease presence throughout the rains.

The second survey drew on 1,440 eBird checklists contributed by over 400 volunteers. Bird distribution was mapped throughout 180 survey areas, spanning Hyderabad’s various habitats resembling city lakes, scrublands and grasslands.

“The survey additionally recognized 18 species protected underneath Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, India’s highest degree of authorized safety, and 26 species categorised as High Priority within the State of India’s Birds evaluation,” knowledgeable a press launch. 

The survey findings included sightings of the International Union of Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of threatened species: River Tern (Sterna aurantia), which is assessed as Vulnerable, Asian Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus), Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis), and Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus), all close to threatened.

Himayat Sagar–Kothwalguda, Dammaiguda–Thimmaipalli, Jalpally–Pahadishareef, Bachupally–Madaram, and Pashamylaram–Isnapur emerged as essentially the most species-rich areas. In distinction, dense city sectors, together with Secunderabad–Lakdikapool, Malkajgiri–AOC and LB Nagar–Dilsukhnagar recorded the bottom variety.