Beauty & Birds Vanishing: Fewer winged visitors year after year

Increasing human activity at Ameenpur lake, a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS), is taking toll on birds, both migratory and native, which visit the place for breeding. Numbers have come down from to nearly half over past one year.

Alarming levels of inaction by authorities during the lockdown is blamed for the lake turning into an unrestrained recreational spot.

Ameenpur lake attracts several migratory birds from the north region and neighbouring countries, especially during winter.

Although the city saw cleaner air and was free of pollution, the lake faced a renewed threat to its biodiversity from revelers who sometimes ventured into the habitats disturbing the birds. There is hustle-bustle of humans including visitors and trespassers and pleasure-mongers. Massive amounts of plastics presents an eyesore and even a deterrence to the birds which seek serene locales to grow their numbers.

Pradeep Nair, founder of Animal Conservation Welfare Committee, says that as many as 217 different bird species flocked to the lake in 2019. The number has dropped to 150 in 2020. "The situation was better pre-pandemic days due to the patrolling. However, after lifting of covid lockdown, the lake has been a walking area for people from neighbourhoods.

It is disastrous for the lake and its flora and fauna, too, due to littering, lots of liquor bottles, plastic waste etc. Revellers just swarm in with loud music, party and consume alcohol, leading to a huge disturbance to the species. We recently requested police patrolling here and liquor consumption should be not allowed here."

From the bund, the view was good but people started moving closer to the lake to have a gala time, which led to a disaster for birds. There are even wine shops in proximity, which is one of the reasons for crowds to stream in. "There're no restrictions.

This is sadly scaring off nature lovers who are wary of groups that are drunken and littering. Earlier photographers used to visit the place often. Now they move to other lakes for serenity, says Niharika, a photographer who recently visited the lake.

G Shailu, a former member of the Telangana State Biodiversity Board (TSBB), said, "During lockdown, less pollution was recorded and the birds breathed easy. However, the current situation is different, as the human activity has increased, triggering damage to the biodiversity of the lake."

Sujatha A, Municipal Commissioner, said, "we are planning to install a CCTV near the lake area to keep tabs on the anti-social activities at the lake. We have banned plastic, yet the locals dump garbage. Next month we will put up fencing at the place."