Ahmedabad Bird Atlas Documents 181 Species, Reveals Urban Biodiversity Decline
For residents of Ahmedabad's core urban areas, the typical winged visitors are often limited to rock pigeons, crows, mynas, doves, with occasional sightings of parakeets and starlings. Those fortunate enough to have gardens might spot a few sunbirds or hear the distant calls of a koel, but the rich soundscape of avian diversity is largely drowned out by the hum of urban life. This observation is underscored by a recent publication titled 'An Atlas of the Birds of Ahmedabad,' which provides a comprehensive survey of the city's birdlife.
Collaborative Effourts and Key Findings
The atlas is a joint initiative by the Bird Conservation Society Gujarat, eBird India, Bird Count India, and The Community Ecology and Conservation Biology Lab (CoCo) at Ahmedabad University. Authored by Ankitha Jayanth, Devvratsinh Mori, and Shomen Mukherjee, it was recently made available online by the university. According to Mori, one of the authors, the project involved scores of volunteers who underwent training and workshops in 2024 and 2025, leading to the identification of 181 bird species within Ahmedabad and its immediate periphery.
Mori explained that these species account for approximately 33% of the bird species found across the entire state of Gujarat. Of the total, about 69% (124 species) are resident birds, 25% (45 species) are migratory, and the remaining 6% (11 species) are local migratory birds typically found in other parts of the state. The study divided the city and its surroundings into 61 squares, each measuring 3.3 square kilometers, for classification by experts. It revealed that a higher number of species were found on the outskirts, while the city interior showed uniform richness with about 20-40 bird species per square.
Causes of Biodiversity Loss in Urban Areas
Experts attribute the missing biodiversity in Ahmedabad's urban jungle to several factors, including shrinking habitats and food bases for birds, air and noise pollution, lack of safe nesting sites, and reduced availability of water. For instance, the atlas indicates that only about 10% of city areas recorded a significant population of house sparrows, which were once a common sight in households. In contrast, approximately 21% of areas—all located on the city periphery or fringes—recorded 60 or more species. This phenomenon is linked to relatively greener spaces due to trees, farmlands, and open grounds, as well as a less dense built environment and residential areas.
Dietary Patterns and Conservation Implications
The study also analyzed the dietary habits of the documented bird species. Out of the total, 40% were found to be dependent on insects as food, followed by 20% each as aquatic predators and omnivores. The remaining 20% included birds that eat fruits, grains, and plants, as well as birds of prey. These findings highlight the ecological roles of different species within the urban ecosystem.
In light of these results, experts emphasize the urgent need for conserving green spaces and fragile ecosystems in Ahmedabad. They advocate for better awareness and education, particularly for the next generation, to foster a stronger connection with nature and promote biodiversity conservation efforts in urban settings.
