Once a common sighting, the Baya Weaver (known for its beautiful nests) is now seen quite rarely. In a bid to assess their status, the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has announced a pan-India Baya Weaver count from June 5-12. Under this initiative, bird watchers, nature lovers and forest officials will note down sightings of the species. Such a count is being held for this species for the fist time in the country.

Among four species of weaver birds or Bayas, the Indian Baya Weaver (Ploceusphilippinus) is one of the most familiar and common birds in the country. Their population seems to have taken a downward spiral due to growing human populace.

"Native to rural Maharashtra, Bayas were an integral part of our backyard. Sadly, when I visit my village now, I hardly see any of their beautiful nests. Their declining population is a reflection of insidious damage we are doing to our immediate surroundings. Hence, continuous monitoring of such species is imperative to understand and monitor the changing environment," said Deepak Apte, director, BNHS.

Out of the four weaver bird species sighted in the country, the Indian Baya Weaver is known for its suspended colonies of nests. It feeds on grain, seeds and insects and has a highpitched voice. Breeding colonies are polygamous and particularly noisy. During the breeding season (that begins in April and goes on till August), the Baya males acquire a distinctive yellow breeding plumage.

Such colonies have been declining for quite some time due to grasslands being overshadowed by human-made landscapes. It calls for an urgent need to collect the population data across India to promote conservation and awareness initiatives.

Commenting on the reason for the decline, Dr Sanjeev Nalavade, senior professor from Fergusson College, said, "The bird needs bent branches to build its nests. Secondly, raw materials, like dried grass and food which these birds acquire from farms, seem to be going away from the city. Having a bird count will help establish the status of the bird in different parts of the country."

Adding to this, Gaurav Nalkur, city-based ornithologist, said, "The birds are disappearing as are the open plots. I have observed this phenomenon first-hand as there was an open plot besides my house where these birds would nest. With a construction coming up there, the birds have gone. The data generated from such count will help in conservation especially if compared with any past data on these birds."