‘Plant a tree, fill a water bowl, revive dwindling bird count'

Time of India

21-06-2025

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Ludhiana: As skies and forests grow increasingly silent, the once familiar calls of birds are fading from daily life. The decline, experts say, is not just a loss of sound but a warning sign of collapsing ecosystems.
In the wake of this, Tejdeep Kaur Kler, principal ornithologist and HoD of zoology at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has issued an urgent call for citizen action to save the country's dwindling bird populations.
"Birdsong is more than a pleasant background sound — it's a vital ecological signal," said Dr Kler, adding, "Its decline signals serious environmental disruption caused by habitat loss, climate change, and human neglect."
She said bird populations are declining due to disappearing wetlands, shrinking forests, erratic monsoons, and the spread of urbanisation. A recent national study revealed significant drops in resident species like the Indian Pitta, Sarus Crane, and Oriental Magpie-Robin — birds once common in rural and urban landscapes.
But while large-scale conservation policies are crucial, she said, citizens also have a powerful role to play in protecting birdlife.
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One of the most effective steps people can take is to plant native trees and shrubs in their surroundings. Unlike ornamental exotics, native species like jamun, amaltas, peepal, ber, and arjun support local insect populations, which are a primary food source for many birds.
Exotic plants may look attractive, but they don't serve the ecological needs of native birds, Kler explained. Birds rely on specific insect cycles, and these insects depend on native flora.
By planting native species, you're rebuilding the natural food chain.
She also urged city planners and residential societies to replace water-hungry lawns and decorative hedges with native vegetation, which provides both food and nesting spaces for birds.
In the face of hotter summers and longer dry spells, providing clean water sources like birdbaths, shallow ponds, or even clay bowls can be lifesaving for birds.
In urban heat islands, birds are often dehydrated and stressed. Something as simple as a bowl of water can help.
Residents are also encouraged to reduce the use of pesticides in home gardens, as these chemicals kill the insects that birds feed on, especially during breeding season when chicks require protein-rich diets.
Noise and light pollution are other major disruptors. Loud music, firecrackers, and constant artificial lighting can interfere with bird communication, especially during mating seasons.
"People must understand that our lifestyles are invading natural rhythms," she said. "Turning off outdoor lights at night and limiting unnecessary noise helps birds stay on their biological schedule."
Dr. Kler also recommends that citizens participate in bird counts and record sightings on platforms like eBird or BirdCount India. These data help researchers track declining species and identify urgent conservation needs.
"Birds are indicators of environmental health," she said. "If we lose them, we are losing a part of our own survival system. It's not too late, but we must act now."
In a world of vanishing birdsong, small actions — planting a tree, filling a water bowl, or choosing not to spray a pesticide — can help bring back the music of the skies.
BOX
WHAT CAN CITIZENS DO
Tejdeep Kaur Kler, principal ornithologist and HoD of zoology at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has issued an urgent call for citizen action to save the country's dwindling bird populations. Here are some of her suggestions
1. One of the most effective steps people can take is to plant native trees and shrubs in their surroundings. Unlike ornamental exotics, native species like jamun, amaltas, peepal, ber, and arjun support local insect populations, which are a primary food source for many birds. Exotic plants may look attractive, but they don't serve the ecological needs of native birds
2. In the face of hotter summers and longer dry spells, providing clean water sources like birdbaths, shallow ponds, or even clay bowls can be lifesaving for birds. In urban heat islands, birds are often dehydrated and stressed. Something as simple as a bowl of water can help
3. Residents are also encouraged to reduce the use of pesticides in home gardens, as these chemicals kill the insects that birds feed on, especially during breeding season when chicks require protein-rich diets
4. Dr. Kler also recommends that citizens participate in bird counts and record sightings on platforms like eBird or BirdCount India. These data help researchers track declining species and identify urgent conservation needs