Birds: Nature’s ‘pest controller’ threatened with extinction

By Burak Bir

ANKARA (AA) - Bird species play a key role as "natural pest controller" in the environment but they are threatened with extinction, one expert told Anadolu Agency.

"Ten percent of the current bird species (1,200 species) are threatened with extinction," said ornithologist Jose Tavares. "Let's make sure we do not lose more."

World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) will be celebrated Saturday and Tavares said the world has already lost approximately 140 species out of a total of 10,000.

"Birds know no borders and connect the Arctic tundra to the West African coast, the forests of central Europe to the Mediterranean shores. Birds are the great travelers and they depend on many areas," he said, explaining this year’s WMBD theme: Birds Connect Our World.

Migration is very stressful and dangerous event for most birds, he said.

"These days, mortality has really increased, and put extra pressure. Birds need to rest and feed on migratory stopovers on their way, but these have disappeared under towns or fields,” said Tavares, who heads the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF).

- COVID-19 impact

Since major steps began by governments to curb the coronavirus that resulted in the restriction of movements of people; declines in industrial production as well as transportation, environmentalists have seen positive signs to the environment because of the decreasing trend of carbon emission in the atmosphere.

But Tavares, like many experts, believe it is still too early to say what effect those measures has had on nature.

"While it is true that there are a lot less disturbance and people in the countryside, and so wildlife is regaining space and confidence – hence the images of wildlife everywhere, getting confident and cruising towns and roads, this can easily be completely reverted if we go back to our lives."

Habitats have been suffering for decades from human pressure, which means two months is too short a period to have any positive result on the environment, he said.

Stressing the needs for protecting birds and their habitats, he said in addition to birds' vital role in sustaining a healthy environment, birdwatching tourism, sustainable hunting, art and music providing inspiration are some positive results of the birds.

"The coronavirus pandemic is reminding us that we live in a connected world. It’s an opportunity to revisit our relationship with nature and rebuild a more environmentally responsible world," the UN agency said Friday, ahead of the World Migratory Bird Day.

WMBD is a biannual awareness-raising event on the second Saturdays in May and October.