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Ch. Prashanth Reddy

Birds winging their way across paddy fields.

HYDERABAD, June 10

THE absence of house sparrows in different parts of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala and their decreasing population elsewhere, the disappearance of vultures and the reduction in the population of house crows and baya birds may be due to the residual effect of agro-chemicals, according to farm scientists who want a "detailed study on this aspect".

The development of agriculture in the country has destroyed the natural habitat of the birds. While the habitat got destroyed in the process of bringing more land under cultivation, the application of agro-chemicals on various crops had a more devastating effect on the avian species.

As per the investigations of agricultural scientists engaged in the ICAR's All-India Coordinated Research Project on Agricultural Ornithology, the migratory birds such as Brahmini duck, pintail, lesser whistling teal, comb duck and spot-billed duck died due to the ill effect of insecticides applied to sprouting paddy seeds in nurseries in Andhra Pradesh.

Similarly, pond heron have been observed dead due to pesticide poisoning in the paddy fields of Kerala. Sarus cranes, a threatened species and closely dependent on paddy crop, had reportedly died after consuming of pesticide-treated seeds in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Median egrets, little egrets, cattle egrets and pond herons have also reportedly died in Gujarat after consuming prey from paddy fields.

Peafowl have died in several places in the country after suspected consumption of pesticide-treated grains. Jungle babblers and red turtledoves have died after consumption of treated wheat grain in Gujarat.

Farm scientists now want introduction of a special course in agricultural ornithology at least in few selected universities. Ornithology, they say, is as important as agro-forestry and agro-ecology that have been recently introduced in agricultural universities.

The subject of agricultural ornithology came up at the recent meeting of the Regional Committee of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) held at the Achraya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) here.

The ANGRAU scientists stated that the study of ornithology was essential for agriculturists. Instead of just integrated pest management, they suggest that the farmers should adopt integrated bird pest management (IBPM) as birds are damaging crops at sowing, ripening and harvesting stages. "Under the present economic crisis and modernisation of agriculture, there is a need to manage all pests, including birds".

ANGRAU scientists have stated that the development of agriculture in the country in the past 40 years has not only resulted in the decline in the population of certain birds, but also created favourable conditions for certain other winged species that thrived in the agricultural fields due to abundant availability of food grains.

Among the birds that have thrived on agricultural habitats was the rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri). As per the scientists, ``It is the most important pest in India causing serious damage to many agricultural, horticultural and vegetable crops and to stored grains''. On the other hand, there were birds which were destroyers of insect pests and rodents and hence beneficial to the crop.

The scientists have identified a total of 63 species of birds that have been damaging crops, particularly cereals, pulses, oilseeds and fruit crops. They have also identified 46 species of beneficial birds that devoured insects and rodent pests. They sought conservation of these beneficial birds and control of major bird pest species.

Among the beneficial birds, the cattle egret (Babulcus ibis), rosy pastor (S. roseus), Indian roller (Coracious benghalensis), spotted owlet (Athene brama) and barn owl (Tyto alba) are stated to be most important. In groundnut crop, birds alone can control about 65 per cent of the white grubs (Holotrichea spp.) population during ploughing operations.

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