While one hardly comes across the chirping of house sparrows these days, other birds like vultures, owls, grey francolin are also struggling to survive.

The biggest reason for decline in population of these birds is the loss of their habitat.

While a few barren lands are left in the city, most of them are not safe for birds like peacocks and red-wattled lapwings that lay eggs on the barren lands.

Grass lands in areas like Pipliana or Annapurna have witnessed human intervention making it difficult for a variety of species like Saras Crane to breed and survive. Use of pesticides and insecticides in food and water have also made their survival difficult.

While encroachments have forced them to leave the city, climate change has also made things difficult for them.

The uneven rains and soaring temperatures have largely affected the birth of new ones.

Last year untimely rains during the month of April damaged many nests and eggs of several birds and also killed the newborns. Similarly, untimely rains that occurred last month also had bad effect on birds.

Another drawback of these changes is that the population of birds that easily adopt with the changes are increasing.

"You see the population of pigeons; it is increasing at an alarming rate, this would become a major problem for humans," said Ajay Gadikar, ornithologist.

Many houses in the city have installed nets to restrict entry of pigeons. Studies have revealed that excreta of birds like pigeons also lead to many diseases.

Meanwhile, recent reports suggest that birds like Indian eagle owl, Indian grey hornbill, Red wattled lapwing, and white breasted king fisher that are found in Indore have also started adapting to the changed conditions.

While some birds in absence of trees and wet lands have made concrete houses their homes, some that do not get natural material for making their nests are using materials like plastic threads, electric wires and papers .

Indian grey hornbills, a common hornbill found in the Indian sub-continent that nested in hollow cavities, have been spotted living in crevices of buildings.

BIRDS THAT HAVE DISAPPEARED FROM CITY

House sparrows: The population of house sparrows has gone down considerably in last few years. A major factor for their disappearance from is the cities is their food. Radiation from mobile towers affect their communication and survival. The birds are still found in nearby villages. House sparrows were known for eating many insects and even larva of mosquitoes and acted as pest control.

Baya Weaver: The baya weaver bird was once a common species found near city outskirts of Indore. But their population had undergone a decline with increased loss and shrinkage of their habitat due to human intervention. This is the only species which has suspended pendulous nests built in colonies, usually above water. It feeds on grains, seeds and insects. Declining population of one time common bird like Baya is a reflection of insidious damage we are doing to our immediate surrounding.

Lesser florican: Lesser floricans were once found in huge numbers in Malwa area but due to the depletion of grassland and vacant land, their population has gone down. The state government had built one wildlife sanctuary in Dhar but failed achieve the motive. Experts say that only one lesser florican has been spotted in the area in last three years. Lesser floricans were also known as farmers' friend, as they ate insects and pests. The birds were forced to eat pesticide affected food that led to a decline in their population.

Grey francolin: Grey francolin were found in lakhs of numbers in the city outskirts. They are known for living in shrubs and dry lands. As immense development has taken place in the city in last few years, the shrubs and empty land has gone down leading to a complete wipe off of the species from the city. They have also been hunted for food. They can be seen in small numbers in the outskirts now.

Sarus Crane: One of the tallest species of the cranes in the world, Sarus Crane is distinguished by its contrasting red head. The species is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent and are mostly found in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The back water of Yashwant Sagar Lake was once a favorable habitat for them but human intervention had increased in the last few years. Many houses had been built very close to the wetland. Locals also use the wet land for irrigation when the water recedes. Sarus Crane mostly feed on insects, intensive use of pesticides and insecticides on these lands had affected the food chain of these birds.