Empty skies: Sparrows, swifts among endangered species

Rapid urbanisation, pollution, population increase cause birds to diminish

PESHAWAR: Sparrows and swifts, which were commonly seen soaring in the sky or sitting on rooftops, are now disappearing from the city. Experts and bird lovers believe rapid urbanisation, pollution and fast-paced development activities in the city are depriving these birds of their habitats and increasing the population of their predators.

Once upon a feather

According to residents of the provincial capital, in the past people made spaces for swifts and sparrows to make nests and lay eggs. However, modern and concrete structures have now replaced old houses which have no place for the winged species.

“Times have changed and people no longer take care of these birds and leave no space in their fancy houses for them,” Said Marjan, a bird lover in Qissa Khwani told The Express Tribune. Marjan added he would gaze at the birds during his childhood and would always find swifts and sparrows chirping and singing on his balcony. “I stand on my rooftop everyday but no longer see the tiny birds anymore - only crows and black kites fly up in the sky,” he added.

Marjan said excessive hunting and noise pollution in the city have also caused the smaller birds to become almost extinct.

He urged the wildlife department to add sparrows and swifts to the list of endangered birds and take steps for their protection. He also requested people to place wooden boxes and pots on their rooftops to attract the birds and prevent their extinction.

Vicious cycle

There are many reasons for the disappearance of the birds but unprecedented and irregular migration of people to urban areas seems to be a major cause.

According to officials of the wildlife department, rising concrete structures and excessive amounts of solid waste generated from the city have led to rapid pollution and increased the population of kites and crows who prey on and destroy the eggs and nests of sparrows and swifts. This has endangered these birds. Talking to The Express Tribune, Deputy Conservator Peshawar (South) Muhammad Arif Orakzai said these birds that feed on smaller insects were an important source of seed dispersal and pollination that was crucial to maintain the ecosystem.

Showing pictures of birds that died after consuming seeds contaminated with pesticides in Haripur district, Orakzai said excessive use of pesticides on the suburbs of the city had deleterious consequences for sparrows and swifts. “An increase in garbage generation and open dumping of waste has led to a rise in the population of crows,” he added.

Orakzai also said crows search for the ubiquitous sparrows and swifts’ nests and destroy them after eating the eggs.

Trapped

Officials at the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Peshawar said no work has been done by the agency regarding the protection of the birds.

When contacted, K-P EPA Director General Dr Muhammad Bashir Khan said population increase and rapid urbanisation were definitely among the main factors driving the birds away.

“We are losing agricultural lands to meet the needs of our growing population and this effort unfortunately causes the use of pesticides that adversely affects these birds and rest of the ecosystem,” Bashir said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2015.