Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Habitat Destruction and bird migration.


Habitat Destruction and bird migration.
I was excited and wanted to report the unusual bird sighting including eagles this year.
My jubilation and excitement to see number of eagles are short lived.
I happened to see a young one hovering in my neighborhood.
The reason for this sighting is due to their displacement from their normal habit.
The nature vultures with political backing are clearing the trees of the protected reserve illegally.
Bird have no choice but to leave their natural habitat even before they are big enough to fend themselves. 

I have some collaborative evidence too.
There were three to four species of birds (forest dwelling) who were frequenting our neighbourhood and I was about to boast myself and pat my back and carry a banner to say it was all  because of our environmental drive. 
Making room and fruits available for them to feed were my intended themes for this observation.
Thank god, I did not write these bull shiii before.

I am wiser now.
Unusually the dry season without rain made the leaves of the tree where they nested to fall.
I could see three nests not fully built.
The birds who were getting ready were exposed and the hovering crows made them to disappear soon.

Now they come only looking for food and water.
There were four to five episodes of setting fire to the nature reserve deliberately.
Most of the fire started near where bird were building nests for ages if not centuries.

This in the name of development and I gather with the political backing some structures are also springing up encroaching the nature reserve.

All these time even the Municipality which was run by the opposition did not encourage such shady deals.
But now it is all free with no opposition to raise a voice.

All the sighting were not natural migration or expansion.
It is eviction by default.
Our neighbourhood was their temporary transit.
Evicted from their natural habitat they had no choice.
I am sure I am not going to see any of them next season or next year.
They will be gone for good.

Bird lovers watch out for the fallout and the unusual sightings.

They are migrating from East to West.
In the West too there are nature vultures clearing their habitat unabated. 
I think the environmental minister gives a tacit approval to these activities by his inaction and blind sight.
There are no NGOs looking after the interests of birds of this country unfortunately. 
There is NO reporting of these illegal activities, due to fear of recriminations by bigwigs..