DECLINING FOREST BIRD SPECIES IN WESTERN HIMALAYAS

Subject : Environment

Context : Researchers add that there is strong decline in some of the Habitat Guilds in the areas that undergone land use changes.

Concept :

Habitat guilds are groups of bird species that have common habitat preferences.
For instance, forest specialists include species which forage and breed only in dense protected oak forests at this altitude, while forest generalists can adapt to modified habitats such as orchards and degraded forests.”

Avian Foraging

Avian foraging refers to the range of activities and behaviours exhibited by birds in their quest for food.
In addition to their unique body adaptations, birds have a range of described behaviours that differ from the foraging behaviours of other animal groups.
According to the foraging habitat, birds may be grouped into foraging guilds. Foraging includes a range of activities, starting with the search for food, making use of sensory abilities, and which may involve one or more birds either of a single or even of multiple species.
This is followed by locomotion and movements to obtain or capture the food, followed by the processing or handling of the foods prior to ingestion.