Airliners-India.com

karatecatman · Guest

After the unending construction boom in Pune city which is bursting at seams, conservationists have decided to step in.
To lure back the bird population, artificial nest boxes are being perched atop the trees in municipal gardens here on experimental basis to offer a shelter to them even as the green cover continues to erode to pave way for IT parks, malls, multiplexes, automobile industry and skyscrapers.
The project undertaken by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in response to a suggestion from Satish Pande, a conservationist, who conducts ornithology workshops here, has evoked widespread interest among citizens and environmentalists, says a UNI report.
Bird conservation activity is important in urban areas as it leads to seed dispersal, pollination of flowers, controlling of insects which ultimately helps in maintaining ecological balance, Pande says.
The uncurbed tree felling coupled with demolition of old residential Wada structures in this saucer-shaped city which once had an enviable tree cover within and on the surrounding hills, was driving away birds who find their nests destroyed every day as bulldozers raze and level land to house an increasing number of people converging here, says Dr Pande.
Nest cavities made in big trees by birds after a prolonged diligent effort too are becoming extinct, affecting breeding.
‘‘We have designed nests of various sizes, specifications and diameters to facilitate entry for birds of different species and varying heights. Empty wooden boxes, card boxes, used coconut shells, bamboo, pipes, and grass is assembled to create these nests and a semblance of natural comfort for birds,’’ he said.
At present around 50 nest boxes have been put in place in two gardens of PMC including a snake park at Katraj.
Eight to nine more gardens have been identified to put artificial nests numbering around 1000 in a phased manner. Young volunteers who have done basic course in ornithology would be part of the campaign, monitoring response from birds and occupancy of nests in next two years, Dr Pande said.
The targeted bird species include Hornbill, Magpie Robin, Parakeets, Barn Owl, spotted owlet, Common Myna and house Sparrow.
PMCs garden superintendent Yashwant Khaire, who is executing the novel venture, said the nests would be increased in numbers covering the entire city after collecting data on nest occupancy, says the UNI report.

the_380 · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 5:52 pm Post subject:

Even in Mumbai...now i hardly see house sparrows, before 4 years they used to regularly visit a bird house i had made as a enviroment studies project ... but then the numbre of sparrows visiting dropped till a day came when there were no more sparrows visiting Embarassed

_________________
http://www.myspace.com/avsatsworld
A Walt Disney and 20th Century Fox Audio Producer!!! Very Happy

HAWK21M · Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:37 pm Post subject:

There was an Article a few years ago linking the Loss of sparrows to the Cellphone Waves.Not sure how true that is though.But the numbers have def reduced in Mumbai.
regds
MEL
_________________
Think of the Brighter side !!!