If they (the birds) are in trouble, we know we’ll soon be in trouble – Roger Tory Peterson, American naturalist, ornithologist, artist, and educator

P. Pramod, Senior Scientist of Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), warns of the same thing when he says, “Recently, we have observed erratic movements of birds. There is a change in the rhythm or pattern in the way they migrate. And, this is a warning signal. Many long-distance migratory birds are arriving earlier than usual and spending shorter and sometimes longer stints here. There has also been unusual sightings of birds …these are early indicators of the impact of climate change,” he explains.

Global studies have explored how bird behaviour, their migration and nesting habits are directly linked with global climate. This phenomenon needs to be studied in depth and SACON is initiating a network of volunteers for environmental monitoring. The initiative, called ‘Exploring Nature through Birds’ will have bird watchers, school and college students across the country participating. “A national-level surveillance of bird species and their movement is important,” says Pramod.

“People have always tracked birds. Movement of animals and birds indicated change in weather. Even our epics and puranas talk about it. Birds connect life on earth through their unique migration, and they assume more importance in the study of life form changes due to the climate change,” he adds.

According to Pramod, a systematic documentation of birds and their movements can keep track of what’s going on in the environment. “Birds are good indicators of environmental changes. In one of our long-term studies in Aaralam Wild Life Sanctuary in Kerala, significant changes were observed in bird population over a decade. How much of it is influenced by climatic changes needs to be looked into. In one of our earlier research (published in an international journal IBIS), we found that birds do anticipate rainfall and nest accordingly. The peak breeding season of the birds in different parts of the country occurred one month before the arrival of the monsoon rains. And the peak food demand of chicks coincided with the arrival of monsoon.”

There is enough evidence of changes in breeding, timing of migration, breeding performance (egg size, nesting success), population size and distribution, to prove climate change. But only now are these facts been associated with changing trends in climate. “The focus now is on the impact of climate and local weather on the population dynamics of birds. Anyone can volunteer to SACON’s initiative. Even observation of unusual sightings of some of the charismatic species hold vital clues,” says Pramod.

Birds are often used as indicators of environmental health. They live in almost every type of environment, have varied diets and are at the top of the food-chain. They are easy to see and observe. “Climatically-induced distributional change of birds has caught the attention of many ornithologists. Weather not only affects the metabolic rate of birds but is also influences the birds’ foraging habits and courtship. Nature always gives clues. We just need to look out for them,” says Pramod.

In Europe and the U.S., studies show changes in the timing of migration. This is based on observations made over wide geographical areas or over long time periods by networks of volunteers co-ordinated by British Trust of Ornithology in UK and Audubon Society in the U.S.

In Australia the status of birds is used in environmental reports such as the State of the Environment, a report published every five years by the Department of Environment and Heritage.

In the United Kingdom, birds are highly regarded as an indicator species. The government uses the status of birds as one of the 14 base-line Sustainability Indicators, along with their GDP. It is known as “The Population of Wild Birds Quality of Life Indicator”

In India too there have been initiatives by Bangalore-based biologists on Migrant Watch and Season Watch.