The Hindu : New Delhi News : `Tigers of the sky' abandon Delhi

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Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007
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`Tigers of the sky' abandon Delhi

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

Rapid urbanisation takes its toll

NEW DELHI: Nicknamed "tigers of the sky", kites are fast abandoning Delhi's skyline driven out by rapid urbanisation and increasing vehicular population. The Capital's kite population has dipped from 20 to 25 nesting pairs across 200 acres in 1973 to four to five nesting in the same area now, say ornithologists.

Much like vultures, kites are scavengers and also feed on rodents. "With the increase in human population, Delhi has lost much of its green cover and its bird population too. Also, high vehicle population has made it difficult for the kites to swoop and pick up food, forcing them out of the city," says Delhi Zoo curator A.K. Malhotra.

Having studied the bird for several decades, Dr. Malhotra has published his research, "Tigers of the Sky -- Pariah Kite", to document the disappearance of these birds from the Capital.

His book looks into the physical features, breeding biology, growth and development and reproductive success.

Speaking about the vanishing population, Dr. Malhotra says: "A cursory survey of nesting and roosting areas at Delhi Zoo and nearby areas in 1994 indicated that there was no appreciable decrease in the population of the black kite in the study area even after a gap of 21 years when I first studied them. However, a clear decline in population of kites was visible in the 2003 survey. This can be attributed to the loss of wilderness, high traffic density and scarcity of food (disposal of leftovers being made in plastic bags and covered garbage house), shifting of slaughter houses and loss of open land space."

The study was undertaken to assess the ability of the species to control rodent populations, understand its scavenging habits and study how to reduce the flying hazard that its posses for air traffic the world over.

The pariah kite is the most common birds of prey. The bird, according to Dr. Malhotra, has great recognition power and can recognise objects from a distance of 200 to 300 metres.

"This is one major reason why the airport authorities cannot keep the bird at bay for long as it learns to recognise objects used to scare it away and slowly does not fear it anymore. These birds are well adapted to living even in densely populated areas, but with shrinking space not allowing the bird to even swoop down for food they are leaving the city for safer habitats into the nearby areas," says Dr. Malhotra.

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