Birds, one of the best indicators of a healthy environment, have slipped deeper into the danger zone in India, thanks to relentless habitat destruction. According to the studies conducted by BNHS-India, BirdLife International (UK) and other organisations, a total of eight new birds have entered the latest IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List, out of which three are from Maharashtra.
The species newly added to the list include the woolly-necked stork and Andaman teal, which have been uplisted (moved up the threatened ladder) from the least concern to vulnerable category. The Andaman green pigeon, ashy-headed green pigeon, red-headed falcon, Himalayan griffon, bearded vulture and Yunnan nuthatch have been uplisted from east Concern least concern to near threatened. Out of these species, the red-headed falcon, Andaman teal and bearded vultures are from Maharashtra. The red-headed falcon is still found in declining numbers in most parts of India (except the Himalayan ranges) and several neighbouring countries. But it has disappeared in Pakistan partly due to falconry.
Loss of habitats due to factors such as infrastructure development, forest fires, poaching and use of chemicals are jeopardising the existence of these and other threatened species.
The bearded vulture or lammergeyer has been facing moderately rapid decline, and the cause of this is being attributed to diclofenac.
Experts say the loss of habitat is extremely dangerous as 13 birds from India have been included in the threatened list in just eight months.
In an earlier revision of the IUCN list that took place in November 2013, five species had been added to the threatened list, which includes the great stone plover, Alexandrine parakeet, grey-headed parakeet, blossom-headed parakeet and red-breasted Parakeet. Of the top 16 species, six are from the state.
