State has lost three bird species, others on the brink, says expert

Pune: Some bird species that used to migrate to Maharashtra have not been spotted for several years and others are on the brink. Conservationists will have to think of practical solutions for their protection, Raju Kasambe, project manager of the Important Bird Areas programme, said here on Monday.
“In Maharashtra, three bird species are all but gone. The Siberian Crane, the Pink-headed duck and the Jerdon's Courser can hardly be seen here anymore,” said Kasambe.He was addressing a panel discussion on ‘Threatened Birds of Maharashtra’ as a part of the ongoing Kirloskar Vasundhara International Film Festival.
Kasambe painted a bleak picture for the future of many other bird species in Maharashtra — the Great Indian Bustard, the Lesser Florican and Sarus Cran.
The Pardhi community had emerged as protectors of the Lesser Florican by volunteering their skills for the preservation of the species instead of hunting them down. “These innovative conservation efforts can go a long way in saving these species,” he said.
Kasambe, who has co-authored a book on the threatened birds of Maharashtra, said there were about 50 bird species that faced various threats.
Meanwhile, environmental activist Dilip Kulkarni said the development model needed a rethink. “It is not as if using solar and wind energy will resolve everything,” Kulkarni said. Rural households built according to traditional practices could be considered more “developed” when compared to cement and concrete structures that require tonnes of energy to keep air-conditioners running.
Kulkarni suggested that instead of recycling non-degradable materials, people must avoid using them, especially plastic.