The cumulative total of the bird species known to have occurred at Lalbagh from the nineteen seventies onwards, could be anywhere between 140 to 170 species. However, if we just consider the last half a decade and species with an occurrence frequency of more than thirty percent of the months, the list drops to just 44 species.
The list of birds seen was prepared by Mr Kishan SB and is at:
Out of these 44 species, just three non aquatic species could build their nests closer to the ground in shrubbery. And then again, they may not, building their nests higher in the vegetation. We have no ground nesting non aquatic birds at Lalbagh.
However if we consider the bird species which come down to the shrubbery, or the ground to feed, (including those coming to artificial food), which are non aquatic, it could be about fourteen species. All the other species out of the thirty odd garden species with an extended duration of presence in Lalbagh, live on trees.
Now, if we begin to wonder why, some explanations stand out. We have too little shrubbery in Lalbagh. We do not have places where fallen leaves stand at the base of trees, near trunks, or under low vegetation. The Covid19 lockdown showed that given enough isolation and no interference, lush meadows and ground vegetation comes up. But they are not allowed to be, and are cut close to the ground to maintain an open, almost barren, manicured look. And herein lies the problem for our birdlife.
Making Lalbagh Greener
~ in good faith, mbk.
