Book on endemic birds says three species almost extinct

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

A new book, 75 Endemic Birds of India, was launched by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). Authored by Dhriti Banerjee, Amitava Majumder and Anindya Naskar, the book commemorates 75 years of Indian independence.

About the book:

The book contains details, including the etymology of bird names and their historical relevance along with vital facts such as subspecies differences, distinguishing traits, preferred habitats, breeding habits and food preferences.
The book also comes with maps indicating species distribution.
The book outlines the endemicity of Western Ghats which is home to species such as Malabar grey hornbill (Ocyceros griseus), Malabar parakeet (Psittaculacolumboides), Ashambu laughingthrush (Montecinclameridionalis), white-bellied sholakili (Sholicolaalbiventris), Nilgiri pipit (Anthusnilghiriensis) and more.
Some birdsendemic to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, include Nicobar megapode (Megapodius nicobariensis); Nicobar serpent eagle (Spilornisklossi) and Andaman crake (Rallinacanningi).

Bird diversity in India:

India is home to 12.40% of the global bird diversity; 1,353 bird species out of 10,906 documented globally are from India.
The country has 78 endemic bird species. Of the bird species existing in the country, 28 are found only in the Western Ghats, 25 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, four in the Eastern Himalayas, and one each in the Southern Deccan Plateau and Central Indian Forest.

Special conservation efforts needed to protect endemicity:

Among the 78 endemic bird species, 25 are classified as threatened as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorisation.
- Specifically, three species are listed as critically endangered, five as endangered, and 17 as vulnerable.
- Additionally, 11 endemic species are categorized as near threatened.
Three endemic species — Manipur bush quail (Perdiculamanipurensis), Himalayan quail (Ophrysiasuperciliosa) and Jerdon’s courser (Rhinoptilusbitorquatus) — have not been sighted in several decades and feared of extinction.

Causes of decline:

Climate change, habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation.
The book specifically highlights four bird species– Bugunliocichla (Liocichlabugunorum), white-bellied sholakili, Ashambu laughingthrush (Montecinclameridionalis) and the Wayanad laughingthrush (Garrulaxdelesserti)- which are very much habitat specific and found in very small pockets of India.

Source: Mongabay