Flying into trouble: Harriers decline as grasslands disappear

Flying into trouble: Harriers decline as grasslands disappear

News:

According to a recent study, there has been a decline in population of Harrier birds at their roosting sites in India

Important facts:

1. The harrier bird is a migratory raptor species. The Harrier birds in winter migrate from Central Asia to the grasslands in the Indian subcontinent
2. In India, at least five species of harrier birds have been recorded over the years. India has one of the largest roosting sites in the world for Pallid harriers and Montagu’s Harriers
3. Out of 16 Harrier species, 2 are listed as endangered by IUCN
4. Key highlights of the study:

• The study was conducted on 6 of the 15major roosting sites in India
• The researchers collated published data, unpublished accounts and field research to analyse population trends of the birds since 1980s
• The study shows a general decline in all the monitored sites. However, there has been a dramatic decrease at the Rollapadu Bird sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh
• The study further points put the there has been no substantiate decrease in harrier population in Central Asia. According to the study, the possibility of the birds migrating to different roosting place is unlikely

5. Reasons for Decline:

• Loss of grasslands due to urbanization or agriculture-Out of 15 roosting sites surveyed, 8 do not exist as grasslands and only 5 are protected
• Excessive use of pesticides in farms near roosting sites has led to decline in grasshoppers which are primary food for harriers. Further, pesticides might have poisoned the harriers