Partial increase in birds at Garhi Mandu forest

NEW DELHI: There has been a partial increase in bird species diversity in Garhi Mandu city forest in north Delhi from last year's 44 to 48.

Out of the 48 species sighted this year, 33 are terrestrial birds and 15 are water dependent birds, including 14 species of winter migratory birds. There is no record of the endangered species after 2015.

However, the number has substantially been declining over the years. The forest, located beside the eastern bank of Yamuna in northeast district spans around 300 hectares and falls under the north forest division.

In 2014, the forest saw 120 species out of the total 250-odd species recorded in the national capital.

Ecologists said that  this was due to loss of dense forest cover and wildlife habitat, local human interference, and climatic changes. They said that even this year, the increase could be due to a fluctuation in diversity of bird species due to global warming and climatic changes.

“The area measuring 300 hectares was rich in biodiversity habitat, especially birdlife diversity, among the wildlife in Delhi urban city. But the diversity is now declining due to increasing human interference and threats due to rapid population growth and urbanisation.

Even the adjacent surrounding natural wetland has now dried up and turned into playground,” ecologist, T.K. Roy, who was in-charge of the survey, said. He said birding events, which record bird species diversity in Delhi, only cover a few forests and not the entire forest and open wetlands acreage.

Adding a word of caution, he added the wildlife habitats would be lost if the dense forest cover continue to decline and there is no improvement in the situation.