New Book by Conservationist Asad Rahmani Highlights India's Threatened Bird Species

UPDATE - follow-up to Interview | Ornithologist Asad Rahmani on his new book 'Where Have the Birds Gone?': Noted conservationist and ornithologist Asad Rahmani has released a new book titled Where Have the Birds Gone? Empty Nests. Quiet Skies. One Question, published by Juggernaut Books. The Lucknow-based author, former director of the Bombay Natural History Society, has written 27 books and 150 peer-reviewed scientific papers. His latest work is dedicated to lost species such as the mountain quail and pink-headed duck. The book examines 14 of India's most threatened birds, including the white-bellied heron, green munia, Bengal florican, and Jerdon's courser, while analyzing factors behind their declining numbers.

Threats and Statistics

Rahmani identifies multiple threats to avian life, including habitat loss, alien species, wind farms, power lines, dams, illegal pet trade, pesticides, poaching, glass buildings, and free-ranging stray dogs. According to the 76-year-old author, dogs have attacked 80 wild species in India, including 31 threatened species and four critically endangered ones. In Ladakh, free-ranging dogs kill nearly 60 percent of the chicks of the vulnerable black-necked crane. Furthermore, skylarks have dropped by nearly 80 percent, while Indian rollers have seen a 30 percent decline over 12 years. Globally, BirdLife International and the IUCN state that 1,256 species, or about 11.5 percent of all birds, face extinction threats, and fewer than 120 great Indian bustards remain, mostly in two Rajasthan pockets.

Solutions and Outlook

Despite the crisis, Rahmani maintains an optimistic outlook and cites success stories like the greater adjutant, painted stork, and spot-billed pelican. His proposed conservation solutions include expanding protected areas, conservation breeding, putting power lines underground along migratory routes, and reducing stray dog populations. He argues that flagship programs like Project Tiger are insufficient for birds because 50 percent of threatened and near-threatened bird species are not found in Project Tiger areas or do not breed there. For the critically endangered great Indian bustard, high-tension wires pose the biggest lethal threat because the birds have narrow frontal vision and hit these lines when disturbed by predators like stray dogs. Rahmani emphasizes that community conservation is vital and notes that India must lead in environmental protection and sustainability if it aspires to be a global teacher.