House crows help raise green cover in arid Rayalaseema, study finds

House crows are quietly increasing green cover in Rayalaseema, one of Andhra Pradesh's driest zones, according to a new study. Researchers from Sri Krishnadevaraya University observed crows feeding on ripe neem fruits from March to June, eating 30 to 40 fruits in one sitting. The birds then disperse the seeds through their droppings, often a kilometre or two from the parent tree, a process called endozoochory. Field marks on droppings around Penakacherla dam, the university campus, forest fringes in Annamayya, roads in Kadapa, tank bunds in Kurnool and roadside spots in Tirupati showed a roughly 2% rise in urban greenery that comes from natural regeneration rather than planting. Villagers such as 72‑year‑old Ramakrishna of Dharmavaram reported neem saplings appearing on tank bunds where only thorny shrubs grew before. Similar seed‑ling growth was noted near Kadapa, Kasapuram, Kadiri, Penukonda, Gooty Fort hillocks and the Tadipatri Penna bund. Birdwatchers also recorded bulbuls, mynas, babblers and barbets spreading peepal and banyan seeds across many towns. Despite the benefit, house‑crow numbers have dropped nearly 50% since 2015, blamed on tree removal for road widening, garbage burning and new covered bins. A forest official in Rajampeta said protecting old fruit‑bearing native trees can let birds continue this low‑cost regeneration, reducing the need for water‑intensive afforestation projects.