Loss of habitat, pesticide accumulation as well as targeted killing are some of the main reasons for the decline
A Peregrine Falcon in the Little Rann of Kutch. The species is in decline, according to the State of India's Birds 2023. Photo: iStock India’s raptors (birds of prey) are declining fast and the reasons for the decline are poorly understood, according to the State of India’s Birds 2023: Range, trends, and conservation status released on August 25, 2023.
There is an immediate need for research to diagnose specific threats and measure their impact so that policies can be developed for raptors as a group, the report advised.
The analysis found that all woodland species, and White-eyed Buzzard and Common Kestrel among generalists, continue to decline, but possibly at a lower rate than earlier.
“In contrast, open country specialists show a particularly strong decline both in the long term and currently, although Black-winged Kite and Western Marsh Harrier show trends that are roughly stable in the long term,” it added.
Raptors are in decline globally due to loss of habitat, pesticide accumulation as well as targeted killing. For instance, harriers have declined in their breeding range in Europe due to pesticide use. Harriers winter in India and some, like the Pallid Harrier have shown a 70 per cent decline, according to the report.
Some raptors in India are on the decline as they need large tracts of high-quality habitat to serve their dietary needs which the country no longer has.
An example of this is the Tawny Eagle. It is becoming increasingly difficult to see today and is of High Conservation Concern like many other large raptors, the report said.
The most concerning decline among raptors is that of vultures. The document noted:
The diclofenac ban may have slowed vulture declines in some places, but the analyses in this report shows that countrywide, vultures continue to decline: Indian Vulture by over 8% every year, and Red-headed and White-rumped Vultures by over 5% and 4% respectively.
The authors of the report added that several Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS), including diclofenac and aceclofenac, continue to be produced for human use and can thus be used for livestock as well.
Besides drugs, vultures are now facing challenges in that carcasses are being buried. Moreover, feral dogs compete with the birds at carcass dumps. Carcasses poisoned to kill feral dogs often cause vulture deaths as collateral damage.
There are some positive trends too. Generalist species like Shikra, Booted Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, and Brahminy Kite (which occupy a range of habitats, including human habitats) and woodland species appear to have suffered the least declines in the long term.
The report urged that investigation about the levels of toxic chemicals in the environment and in raptors’ prey species as well as how they accumulated in raptors’ tissues.
“Tackling this will require innovative and inter-disciplinary programmes involving a number of stakeholders,” the report said.
For vultures, it suggested “a combination of bans, education and alternatives” to stop the veterinary use of toxic NSAIDs. “Free-ranging dogs cause problems for vultures (and other wildlife), and this threat needs to be acknowledged and managed,” it said.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.