Decline of Bird Species in Tamil Nadu Revealed in SOIB 2023 Report

• 04 Oct 2023

A recent analysis of the State of India's Birds (SOIB) 2023 report highlights that nearly 110 bird species observed in Tamil Nadu are currently experiencing a decline.

Key Points:

• Rapid Decline in Tamil Nadu: In Tamil Nadu, 86 bird species, including the garganey, northern shoveler, common sandpiper, and common teal, are categorized as being in a state of "rapid decline."
• Surprising Findings: Researchers expressed surprise that even bird species previously considered common are now classified as declining. For instance, Indian rollers, once casually seen in open fields, are experiencing a decline across the nation.
• Importance of Regional Reports: Urbanization and evolving landscapes necessitate detailed regional bird reports to comprehend changing bird patterns.
• The SOIB report's trends were primarily based on data from eBird, a citizen portal for birders and researchers. However, only 39 out of 451 bird species in Tamil Nadu have sufficient long-term trend data, indicating a data deficiency.
• Hope for Improved Data: The SOF report acknowledges that conclusive long-term and current annual trends are available for a limited number of species in Tamil Nadu.
• It suggests that with more contributions from birders to eBird in the future, data deficiencies may decrease, allowing for a more comprehensive analysis of the state's bird species.