Presence of pollutants in the air can disturb food chain and breeding activities of birds in Delhi and Near Capital Region (NCR), according to ornithologists.
Associate Professor, AJ Urfi from the Department of Environmental Studies, Delhi University (DU), said besides respiratory diseases, rising air pollution can trouble ecosystem and biological system. “Air pollution is just not a problem for humans it also effects the migration of birds. It can cause the birds to divert their destinations. Once it happens, the balance in food chain and breeding is impacted,” he said.
“like human beings, birds also have categories among them. It has been observed that healthy birds falling in the top category choose locations conducive to breeding: less polluted and rich in habitat,” Urfi said.
Another ecologist, Gopal Krishna said, “It is a matter of concern that the population of migratory birds has gone down in Okhla Bird sanctuary. Birds seek ideal conditions for habitat while breeding like clean air, water and macrophytic vegetation and if they do not get these, they divert their routes.”
“Birds have sharp memory and cover huge distance for suitable climate conditions where they can get food while nesting. The atypical pollution level also causes respiratory problems in birds and effluent waste from industries mutilation the macrophytic,” he said.
The high-level pollution in the Capital has become the reason of respiratory disease among humans. Ornithologists said though no dedicated research has been conducted to ascertain the impact of pollution on migratory birds there are observations hinting towards the dwindling population of birds due to disturbances in ecological balance and
air pollution.