theclimatewatch.com
Concrete growth leaves Dhaka's birds with fewer places to live
Researchers link Dhaka’s bird diversity to green spaces, warning that concrete expansion, pollution and wetland loss are putting growing pressure on the city’s urban ecosystem. There was a time when mornings in Dhaka began with the calls of birds. Sparrows perched on house ledges, mynas sat on tree branches, crows lined up on electric wires and a variety of birds could be seen among the trees in parks. This familiar scene, however, is gradually changing. The expansion of concrete structures, rapid urbanization, loss of water bodies and worsening air pollution are increasingly shrinking the habitats available to birds in the city. These changes are not merely a crisis for one group of animals; they are also a significant warning sign of growing pressure on Dhaka’s overall biodiversity and urban ecosystem. A study published in the journal Ecology and Society in 2022 identified 106 bird species in Dhaka city. Of these, 80 were resident species, while 57 of the resident species were identified as potential breeders within the city. The study drew on existing records from 1995 to 2017, as well as data from eBird and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). In addition, researchers conducted field surveys at 190 sites...
