SAVING BIRDS AND BEES- A DIRE NECESSITY

The importance of the development of technology and modernization is so seriously sought, that destroying nature is considered necessary in certain cases. Although certain laws protect the encroachment of technology over nature, it might be late to act, now more than ever for certain species.

This topic covers the importance of birds and bees- two important parts of nature that are actually responsible for life on this planet and will be if not acted now.

Importance of bees-

Pollinating agents- Pollination is the major aspect and importance of bees. Our enjoyment of coffee to Almond to the cotton we wear are a work of these insects. Averagely, about 75-80% of pollination for leading crop production is done by bees. Without these agents, most flowers won’t become fruit and thus, cause starvation and destruction of many species of animals and birds. Also, this could lead to reduced crop production and therefore, a less nutritious diet. Animals depending on crops can expect lesser availability of food and its ripple can travel up the chain impacting even the apex predator, humans.

Producing honey- Honey bees are an important aspect of nature and produce honey by collecting nectar from flowers. They transfer pollen by such travel and account for up to 35% of pollination by insects. Without honey bees, the production of honey will exhaust and so does the chain depending on it. On study, honey production contributes to more than $50 billion trade worldwide due to demand, which they do for free.

Conservation of species and biodiversity- Might be wondering how? Certain species of plants require special pollinators as well as proper transmission of pollen. They also help in pollinating wild species of plants and shrubs thus keeping the ecosystem thriving. Saving these species keeps the food web intact and helps in the conservation and promotion of biodiversity, also while saving many endangered species.

Importance of birds-

Seed dispersion and Ecosystem conservation- Birds also share an important aspect in biodiversity conservation since they help in the growth of trees. Birds eat the fruit of trees and disperse the seeds elsewhere through excretion. This helps in the growth of new trees and thus biodiversity is formed. Studies suggest that forest was formed through such phenomenon and transfer of exogenous plant species were also done by these animals. Certain trees have a thick coating on seeds which will be dissolved by the stomach fluids of birds, and thus the seeds germinate. Endangering birds results in losing the possibility of transferring and conserving plants and trees.

Natural predators- Remember the locusts that ravaged Punjab, Haryana, and other states in early 2020. Well, this incident could have been reduced if more birds had prevailed in the area. Studies predict that birds eat about 400-500 million insects every year. They are nature's selection for controlling pests and insects and help farmers with better yielding of crops. When we disturb one part of nature, another has to take its place right?

Pollinators- Apart from bees and other insects, birds contribute to about 4-5% of global pollination. They pollinate many medicinal and food plants and their disappearance can drastically impact the world. 

Nature’s cleaner- The quick arrival and thorough clean-up of scavenging and omnivorous bird species like Vultures to nature’s cleaning crew are what makes it so vital. They clean leftover meat within minutes, which animals such as feral dogs and rats take hours or days, posing as a breeding ground for microbes of various diseases such as TB and rabies. Indian feral dog population grew by 5.5 million leading to Rabies transmission and causing thousands of deaths when the population of Asian vultures dwindled.

These are some of the few advantages and important necessities of conserving bees and birds. Their conservation has numerous other benefits and can impact us naturally, economically, and through health. Their population dwindles every day mainly due to-

• Habitat loss
• Technology exposure and radiation
• Global warming
• Reducing food sources

 

What we can do to conserve them?

• Plant flowering plants or make a garden
• Hang tree houses or birdhouses
• Reduce your area from exposure to technology (like countryside)
• Promote and raise awareness on the issue