Question

Article on effect of pollution on migratory birds

Answer 1

                       Effects of Pollution on Migratory Birds

 

Pollution is detrimental to all types of living beings. The toxic pollutants have undermined plants, animals, and human beings alike. They have jeopardized life on planet earth. Climatic changes caused by pollution have affected the migration of many species of birds.

The first most detrimental effect is the loss of habitat of migratory birds. Owing to urbanization, industrialization, increasing temperature, disappearance of lakes, etc are some of the reasons that are affecting the migration patterns of migratory birds. The birds that cover long distances for breeding don’t find resting and refueling places and this is leading to their deaths. For example Siberian tundra where many goose species breed is being turned into inhospitable place for these species owing to global warming.

Global warming has also compelled many species of cranes, starlings and other small birds to change their routes, cancel their journeys which is having serious ramifications on the ecology. Besides, the pollution induced changes have caused a kind of competition between the resident birds and long distance migratory birds as they have to share and compete with the same breeding place. This influences the availability of food and breeding place for the birds.

The pollution induced changes in the climate may prove catastrophic for many species thus leading to mass extinction of many species of birds. Each individual can contribute in his/her small ways by adopting eco-friendly life style such as reducing the energy use, turning off lights, reducing heating, cycling to our work place or school, etc.

Another way of spreading the awareness concerning the issue is by joining the World Migratory Bird Day campaign. The World Migratory Bird Day should be celebrated at schools and colleges and children should be included in this campaign to save migratory birds which are an invaluable natural resource of our unique planet.      

Answer 2

Increasing pollution, changing climatic patterns and global warming have impacted the migratory birds which take their flights from various regions. Migratory birds generally find their way by using the position of the sun during the day and stars at night. The location, route and may be techniques of migration are hard-wired into their brains. They could also use clues such as visual layout of the land, by smell (sea for example) sound (or example waves on shores, winds through the mountain passes). During migration hundreds of species of migrating birds fly at night including song birds and shore birds. They rely on constellations to guide them during seasonal migration. Air pollution followed by sky glow can reduce the view of constellations of the migratory birds. And birds fly off course toward lights on buildings, towers, lighthouses because they are attracted to lights and taking lights as reference, they end up in mass mortality. 

Increasing pollution has resulted in global warming, which in turn influences the routes of many migratory birds and their annual migration rhythm. A lot of migratory birds change their routes, shorten or completely cancel their journey as a result of changing temperatures. 

Similarly, oil spills impact shorebirds and may result in their diminished health, diminished plumage quality, prey and habitat switching, delayed migration and more.  All these setbacks can lead to reduced productivity in breeding, which in turn impacts food chains in places far and wide.