LETTERS: THE life of birds in urban areas is never easy. They are constantly under threat since their homes are being demolished and, as a consequence, are displaced.
Trees crucial for their survival are being cut down to make space for new shopping malls, housing complexes, parking lots, highways and power lines.
In the last several years, it seems that priority has been given to road construction projects and concrete paving, without considering the effects of the loss of trees and other vegetation on birds.
This is happening in cities, towns and villages. We should understand the importance of birds in urban environments.
Road engineers, city planners, and authorities might not realise that without trees, birds are deprived of fruits, insects and nesting sites.
Without trees, city birds are trapped because they have nowhere else to go.
They end up nesting on concrete buildings or under roof eaves, which are unsafe for them.
It's likely that baby birds will die due to the intense heat of the sun because there's no natural shade.
Furthermore, developers are obsessed about artificial landscaping and choose exotic and imported plants, which hardly provide any shade.
An example is palm trees, which are unsuitable for migratory birds because they lack branches and bear large leaves only at the top, thus being unable to provide for birds' food and shelter.
Also, city planners who focused on rural-urban fringe areas fail to consider the immense value of biodiversity each time they alter the landscape.
The growth of towns and cities at the expense of the countryside has contributed to the disappearance of several bird species, including Fantails, Bulbuls, Javan Mynas, Black-naped Orioles, Asian koels, and others that have not been seen for a while because their natural food resources are being removed by massive urbanisation.
Malaysian birds are not strong fliers and are usually seen hopping from branch to branch or from tree to tree foraging for food.
It is, therefore, essential that urban planners consider the needs of native and migratory birds and that we create more conducive habitats for them as well.
Birds not only play an important role in the ecosystem, but are also vital to many food webs.
For instance, carnivorous birds keep the population of rats and squirrels under control, mitigating financial losses faced by farmers.
Also, crop-friendly species, such as Bitterns and Egrets, feed on insects, pests, fishes and crabs found in fields, being great allies to farmers who usually rely on expensive pesticides to control animals considered pests.
Besides the ecological benefits of a rich bird presence, their movements, colours and sounds enrich the quality of human life.
It has been proven that coming into close contact with nature improves our physical and mental wellbeing.
Sadly, the public perception of birds is poor. They tend to be seen as nuisances and vectors of disease.
If people were more aware of the vital role birds play in the environment as pollinators, seed dispersers, scavengers and predators of rodents and other small animals living in fields, these negative misconceptions would cease to exist.
This includes accepting bird species such as pigeons, crows, mynas, starlings and sparrows that have adapted to human-made environments.
The process of bringing back birds to urban areas begins with creating habitats that are as close as possible to the natural ones, to allow them to thrive under the most favourable conditions.
This means adding plant diversity to cater to different bird species that rely on various plants and trees for food and shelter.
Planting native trees that sustain wildlife by producing fruits and nectar and that attract insects and seed-eating birds is the first step to bringing back birds to urban areas.
Unless more suitable trees are planted and tree cutting is drastically reduced, birds in cities are doomed.
Y.Z.L.
Penang
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times