Encourage Conservation Of Birds And Help Build A More Inclusive Earth

Rapid deforestation, pollution, and many human activities, among others, continue to threaten the existence of birds, with many species having already become extinct. Currently about 1, 200 bird species face extinction in some form of the other and over 200 species have already become extinct. Dwindling bird species have dangerous implications as it will expose the human race to a multitude of problems.

KEEPS INSECTS, RODENTS UNDER CONTROL
Birds are the natural enemy of insects and rodents, which, if not kept under check can destroy an entire forest. Then they are also among the primary seed carriers, a phenomenon known as pollination. In this context, if we stop conserving birds, this natural seed distribution mechanism will come to a halt, which could affect our forest conservation efforts.

NATURE'S DUSTBIN BOYS
Vultures are the natural dustbin boys of our planet and help to keep our planet clean thereby preventing the spread of epidemics like plague, dengue, malaria, rabies, and cholera. In a recent case study in India, it has been found that a sharp decline in the number of vultures led to increasing cases of rabies. What actually happened was, the carcasses in the absence of vultures were consumed by feral dogs. When these dogs came into contact with humans, they passed on this deadly virus to the humans creating the rabies epidemic.

The vulture is not the only bird that keeps our planet clean though, as each bird species does its part to ensure that wastes are well taken care of. Just look around your place and you can see how they are working non-stop for this cause. Crows, sparrows, parrot, eagle… all contribute in keeping the environment clean.

THE EVOLUTION AND SURVIVAL INSTINCTS OF BIRDS MAKE FOR GOOD SCIENTIFIC STUDY

Powerful evolution mechanism in birds has helped them become one of the most adaptable species on the planet: currently there are about 10, 000 species of birds in the world and they have been residents of this planet for almost 150 million years now. This extraordinary ability to evolve and adapt to any environment has great significance in our endeavor towards becoming a more resilient race.

WATCHDOG OF OUR ENVIRONMENT
If you want to know the status of an ecology, just count the number of bird species in that ecology. More often than not, the ecology that has a larger number of species shows higher ecological diversity, and vice versa. Also, since certain species of birds live in a fixed set of ecological settings, their disappearance or appearance can indicate ecological shifts in a region.

MANY PREDATORS DEPEND ON BIRDS AS THEIR MAIN SOURCES OF FOOD

Crocodiles, snakes, squirrels, chipmunks, cats and raccoons feed on birds and their eggs. This is part of the food chain and is necessary to maintain the ecological balance. If this food chain if broken, it might even cause a major catastrophe by affecting other species.

To stop the decline of birds, conservation efforts need to be more comprehensive so that large volume of bird species can be discovered. Conservation efforts should be aimed at:

• Identifying species that are under threat, and to what extent.

• Confirming the causes of decline and addressing them

• Finding natural solutions without damaging the ecosystem.

How one can encourage bird conservation:
• KEEP A LEASH ON DOMESTIC PREDATORS: Domestic pets, especially cats, are among some of the major threats faced by birds. According to some estimates, these pets account for over hundreds of thousands of bird deaths annually. If we are have pets at home, care should be taken that they don't kill resident birds.

• DON'T THROW LITTER ON THE GROUND: Litters contain chemicals and other toxic substances that are harmful for birds. Make sure that litters are disposed of scientifically so that birds can't consume them.

• REMOVE ALL TRACES OF OIL: Even small traces of oil are enough to kill birds – oil destroys the insulation and the waterproofing capability inherent in the feathers of birds. Ensure that you don't dump oil in areas that are accessible to birds.

• LEARN THE ETIQUETTE OF BIRDING: Many birders end up damaging bird habitats because of their ignorance of birding good practices. These may include venturing into sensitive bird zones, littering the area with food items and other toxic stuff, disturbing nesting birds, and creating commotions when in groups.

• CREATE AWARENESS: Creating awareness among the public about the importance of bird conservation is a must in our fight to save birds. But to create awareness, you will first need to be aware yourself about the current wildlife situation, both locally and internationally. Gather all bird related information you can, and try to build logic around them to convince people to protect birds.

• PARTICIPATE IN BIRD CONSERVATION PROGRAMS: These days there are many international and domestic organizations working tirelessly to protect birds. You can join these programs to learn more about bird conservation and can even chip in to help them further the cause of birds. Most of these programs are flexible, and they don't require you to be a full time member. Just give them your time whenever you can.

• STOP BUYING WILD BIRDS: Selling and buying of wild birds is illegal in many countries. When you buy a bird, make sure that it is not another bird on the verge of extinction. Buy from places that are reliable and has a sense of accountability.

• SAY NO TO RUSH DRIVING: Rush driving not only kills humans, but birds as well: every year, millions of birds are killed due to birds clashing with automobile vehicles, even trains! A fast moving vehicle gives both the driver and the bird, little time to change their course in the nick of time to avoid collision.

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