Himalayan Birds Combating Logging and Climate Change

According to a study undertaken by experts at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), bird populations in the Eastern Himalayas are facing considerable problems due to climate change and deforestation.

The study, published in Global Ecology and Conservation, focuses on the understorey bird community in Arunachal Pradesh's Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, which is noted for its great biodiversity.

Over the course of ten years, mist netting and bird ringing were used to track how bird groups moved and changed. The study, which included almost 6,000 individual birds from 130 species, revealed understorey insectivores as particularly sensitive markers of ecological health due to their distinct habitat requirements.

The study's information showed worrying patterns. Many bird species are relocating to higher elevations as temperatures rise, with logged woods hastening this process due to higher temperatures and lower humidity. Smaller bird species appear to be more resilient to these changes, but larger birds, which rely on the colder microclimate of primary forests, gather in undisturbed areas.

Logging not only destroys the habitat of large-bodied, old-growth-dependent species, but it also reduces biodiversity overall. Understorey insectivores, which are critical for ecological balance, are particularly vulnerable, with major losses occurring in logged forests where the density of foliage-dwelling insects is lower.

The study highlights the need to maintain primary forests in order to mitigate the effects of climate change on animals. Umesh Srinivasan, the principal researcher, stresses the need to preserve undisturbed woods at various elevations, allowing species to migrate upwards as temperatures rise. The study warns that encountering degraded forests during migration could result in local extinctions, emphasizing the critical need for conservation efforts to protect these essential habitats.