Photography in the Politics of Memory: Fauna

Butterflies of Maharashtra Nature Park

Altamash التمش — Wed, 15 May 2024 14:54:52 GMT

The butterfly is ancient for its first documented emergence can be dated to at least fifty-six million years ago, and this creature is loved by most today. Maharashtra Nature Park over the Mithi River used to be a dumping yard for waste until remastering into its current identity in 1994, and thereafter, transformed into the sole retainer of green geography in Dharavi. Housing various fauna and flora, and even graciously hosting numerous migratory birds, it is truly a pocket of biodiversity. Uniquely, this park holds importance to education with it becoming an essential spot for studying various sciences in different levels of education. It is empirically proven that it is generally agreed upon by the visitors that this place has made them more environmentally aware and sensitive.

These entries were originally featured at the presently defunct (?) Indian Periodical (2014-2023?) back in 2021.

Among the resident fauna is an evidently growing diversity (generally through more documentation) in butterflies. Perhaps, the easiest to encounter, photograph, and appreciate. Citizen sciences generate research output through the contribution of non-professionals. The Butterflies of India website, a culmination of the efforts of citizen sciences, has easeaned the process of butterfly identification for the nation exponentially through their search optimization through photos. Butterflies are classified in the Lepidoptera, among the most widespread orders of insects. Identified by four wings covered in scales, leading to colour. These creatures transform through the process of metamorphosis, beginning as the wingless larvae, caterpillar. The year 2008 saw a significant increase in the documentation on the Butterflies inhabiting Maharashtra Nature Park from 39 to 72 species. Currently, the highest recorded number of species documented at the location is 78. The subsequent entries are the butterflies I encountered on my visit.

The first entry is Acraea Terpsicore (also referred to as the Tawny Coster).

A. Terpsicore

The second entry is Catopsilia Pomona (also referred to as the Common Emigrant, also referred to as the Lemon Emigrant).

C. Pomona

The third entry is Euploea Core (also referred to as the Common Crow, or the Common Indian Crow).

E. Core

The fourth entry is Junonia Atlites (also referred to as the Grey Pansy).

J. Atlites

The fifth entry is Moduza Procris (also referred to as the Commander).

M. Procris

The sixth entry is Tirumala Limniace (also referred to as the Blue Tiger, or the Oriental Blue Tiger)

References:

See Nelson Rodrigues, Butterflies of Mumbai (2012).

See Devyani Singh and Goldin Quadros, A Study of Maharashtra Nature Park for its role in Environmental Education National Conference on Biodiversity : Status and Challenges in Conservation - ‘FAVEO’ 219-223 (2013).

See Sachin Chorge, et al., Butterfly diversity of Maharashtra nature Park Conference: Wonderful world of Insect (2008).

See Kunte, K., S. Sondhi, and P. Roy (Chief Editors). Butterflies of India, v. 3.03. Indian Foundation for Butterflies and National Centre for Biological Sciences https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org (last visited Apr 8, 2022).

See Kanak Singh, Maharashtra Nature Park – only green space available in the congested slum settlement, Indian Express, 2022, https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/ maharashtra-nature-park-only-green-space-available-in-the-congested-slum-settlement-7781805/ (last visited Apr 8, 2022).

The Greater and the Lesser Flamingos of Bhandup Pumping Station

Altamash التمش — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 09:01:49 GMT

These entries were captured in early 2024, and feature the Lesser (Phoeniconaias Minor) and the Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus Roseus), the most emblematic birds of this habitat.

The Indian Flying Foxes of Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary

Altamash التمش — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 05:39:06 GMT

These entries were captured in early 2023, and feature members of a colonies localised to the trees of Kochi’s primary defence against air pollution. The Pteropus Medius is often seen as a vermin, because of how it impacts fruit farming, and it is further maligned as a vector of diseases. Even so, not only does the Indian Flying Fox create more fruit than what it consumes (through pollination and spreading seeds), and the stigma is often rooted in misinformation about the species, but also these mammals are considered as holy in some villages.

How is the House Sparrow holding up?

Altamash التمش — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 09:40:50 GMT

The fourth of March is designated World Sparrow Day to mourn the declining state of house sparrow (Passer domesticus) populations (Palanippan 2011). The house sparrow has shared ecosystems with human beings for approximately ten thousand years. Even though the species was once considered typical in distribution to both rural and urban regions in nations such as India, it has now become rare in some cities (Yadav 2019). This photo essay is set at the intersection of Ornithology, Citizen Sciences, and Conservation. The methodology utilized is ethnographic and comparative, concluding the need for further action and value positivity of conservation infrastructures about the species internationally and domestically. The sections include photographs of the Indian House Sparrow found around Mumbai in Maharashtra. The population seems to be stabilizing in my city, and this seems to be a result of concentrated citizen-led measures.

Beginning with estimations of losses in the United Kingdom during the 1970s, the population demonstrably decreased until 2013 when studies managed to show signs of stability (Vijayan 2003; Yadav 2019). The house sparrow is a small songbird from the old-world sparrow family (Passeridae). Males have a black bib and throat along with white checks, while females have brown colored strips under the eye (Anderson 2006; Joshi 2009). It is arthro-dependent in that local populations have suffered extinction in the absence of human presence in the surroundings (Summers-Smith 1988; Ravinet et. al. 2018; Hanson et. al. 2020). As a social bird, the species can usually be found in flocks, referred to as 'hosts (Mistry et. al. 2013)'. Such structures generally consist of hundreds of members, while smaller colonies are formed during the breeding season and are typically located proximate to the larger settlement (Patel and Dodia 2017.). Members protect the area surrounding hosts aggressively, and communicate generally, to warn fellow members, and to deter intruders (Paul 2015).

Scientists from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, BirdLife International, and the Czech Society for Ornithology in F. Burns et. al. (2021) studied 378 bird species native to the European Union. It discovered an overall decline of 247 million in-house sparrow populations. The study identified the impact of farming practices as one of the reasons for the decrease (P. Barkham 2021). Similarly, the British Trust for Ornithology reported an approximately 60% decline in British house sparrows from 1994 to 2000 (Gregory et al. 2002; Cricket al. 2005). Brooklyn saw the introduction of the house sparrow in 1851. Consequentially, these hosts spread out to become some of the United States and Canada's most common fauna. Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Berigan et. al (2021) recorded an overall decline of 7.5% and a flock size decline of 22% within the territories of the United States and Canada from 1995 to 2016. The study discovered that there was a larger decline in urban areas compared to rural spaces overall. Interestingly, urban geographies saw larger flock sizes in winter than rural geographies.

Declines in the populations of sparrows have been reported throughout India by studies such as Daniels (2008), Rajashekar and Venkatesha (2008), Bhattacharya et. al. (2010), Ghosh et. al. (2010), Khera et. al. (2010), Jawale (2012), and Jana (2022). As early as 2003, decreases were reported in house sparrow populations of Bengaluru and Baroda (Vijayan 2003). According to Sharma et. al. (2020), the population fell by 80% in Andhra Pradesh, 20% in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and complete disappearance from parts of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh over an unspecified time. Experts contend that the decline in house sparrows is an ongoing process in India beginning in the 1990s (Roopa 2020). According to the deputy director of the Bombay Natural History Society Vibhu Prakash, reports have estimated an 80% decline from 1991 to 2021 (Agarwal 2021).

The diminishment of house sparrow populations in India can be ascribed to a multitude of interconnected factors. The process of urbanization, accompanied by extensive construction and deforestation activities, has engendered a dearth of suitable habitats for nesting (Sharma et. al. 2020; Paul 2015; Balaji et. al. 2017; Dhanya et. al. 2010; Deepalakshmi et. al. 2019; Meeran et. al. 2021). Contemporary architectural designs often lack the essential nooks and crannies that sparrows seek for their nests. This scarcity of appropriate nesting locations is further exacerbated by the prevalence of meticulously manicured gardens that do not offer the requisite shelter (Sharma et. al. 2020; Paul 2015; Dhanya et. al. 2010). Concurrently, the pervasive presence of pollutants and pollutants in the environment contributes to the challenge. The modern predilection for insecticides has led to a diminution in the available insect prey that sparrows rely upon for sustenance (Sharma et. al. 2020; Paul 2015; Balaji et. al. 2017; Meeran et. al. 2021). Additionally, the heightened competition with other avian species indigenous to urban settings imposes additional strains on their already limited resources. The surge in vehicular movement, accompanied by heightened pollution levels, along with alterations in the availability of nourishment, collectively disrupts their ability to survive and propagate (Sharma et. al. 2020; Paul 2015; Balaji et. al. 2017; Dhanya et. al. 2010; Deepalakshmi et. al. 2019). A relatively novel concern is the potential impact of electromagnetic radiation emitted by cellular communication towers, which could potentially interfere with their reproductive endeavors and overall well-being (Paul 2015; Deepalakshmi et. al. 2019). Several sociocultural factors contribute to this decline. These include a dearth of awareness regarding the importance of preserving these avian populations, coupled with negative societal perceptions towards them. Inadequate provision of suitable nesting, feeding, and roosting sites further compounds the issue (Dhanya et. al. 2010; Deepalakshmi et. al. 2019). Even so, not all hope is gone. Rather, house sparrow conservation seems to have been pivoting towards a rather optimistic direction, at the very least in India. Active concentrated citizen-led effort and campaigning has led to population increases around India. These have been reported in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai (Murari 2022; Oppili 2023; Jeshi et. al 2023). This little neighborhood chatterbox has accompanied human social formation and hopefully, will remain one of our most cherished neighbors.

Some of these photos will be uploaded on my Instagram.

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References

§ C.S Jawale 2012. Improved Design Of Nest Box For Indian House Sparrow, Passer Domesticus Indicus. Bioscience Discovery, 3(1) 97-100.
§ D.K. Joshi, 2009. House Sparrow (Passer Domesticus): The Endangered Bird. Orissa Review 53-55.
§ F. Burns, M.A. Eaton, I.J. Burfield, A. Klvaňová, E. Šilarová, A. Staneva, and R.D. Gregory 2021. Abundance decline in the avifauna of the European Union reveals global similarities in biodiversity change: Input datasets & species results. Zenodo.
§ F.P. Patel and P.P. Dodia, 2017. Valediction of House Sparrow (Passer Domesticus Indicus, Linnaeus 1758) From Urban Landscape: A Review Cibtech Journal of Zoology 6 (2) 16-22.
§ G. Mistry, D. Arora and P. Thakor, 2013. The House Sparrow Passer domesticus: Nesting, Orphan Care and Rehabilitation. Rehabber’s Den 1-36.
§ H.E Hanson, N.S. Mathews, M.E. Hauber, and L.B. Martin, 2020. The Natural History of Model Organisms: The house sparrow in the service of basic and applied biology eLife 9.
§ H.Q.P Crick, R.A Robinson, G.F Appleton, N.A. Clark, A.D. Rickard 2002. Investigation into the causes of the decline of starlings and house sparrows in Great Britain: BTO Research Report No. 290. Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
§ J.D. Summers-Smith, 1988. The Sparrows: A Study of the Genus Passer A & C Black Publishers Ltd. 1-306.
§ K. Agarwal, 2021. World Sparrow Day: Scientific study on sharp decline in sparrow population urgently needed in India, says BNHS expert. The Times of India dated March 21, 2021.
§ K. Jeshi and N. Ganguly 2023. How the house sparrows have returned to the backyards in India. The Hindu.
§ K. Murari 2022. Sparrows are coming back to Delhi finally. A new forest is now their safe heaven. The Print.
§ L.A. Berigan, E.I. Greig, D.N. Bonter 2021. Urban House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) populations decline in North America. The Wilson J. of Ornithology, 132 (2) 248-258.
§ M. Meeran, S. Marjuk, M. Byrose, S. Arivoli, S. Tennyson, S. Fathima. 2021. Population Flux of the House Sparrow Passer domesticusLinnaeus 1758 in Chinnamanur Town, Uthamapalayam Taluk of Theni district, Tamil Nadu. India. Journal of Tropical Life Science 11(2), 193 –207.
§ M. Ravinet, T.O. Elgvin, C. Trier, M. Aliabadian, A. Gavrilov and G.P. Sætre, 2018. Signatures of human-commensalism in the house sparrow genome Proc. R. Soc. B 285 (1884).
§ M.R. Paul, 2015. A Review of House Sparrow population decline in India. Asia Pacific Journal of Research 1 (XXIX) 38-40.
§ N. Khera, A. Das, S. Srivastava, S. Jain, 2010. Habitat wise distribution of the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) in Delhi, India. Urban Ecosystem, 13(1) 147-154.
§ N. Roopa 2020. Saving sparrows in cities, one nest at a time. Mongabay dated Feb 25, 2020.
§ P. Barkham 2021. House sparrow population in Europe drops by 247m. The Guardian dated Nov 16, 2021.
§ P. Oppili 2023. Chennai witnesses steady rise in house sparrow populations. Times of India.
§ P. Sharma and M. Binner 2020. The decline of populations of house sparrow in India. International Journal of Agricultural Science.
§ R. Bhattacharya, R. Roy, S. Ghosh, A. Dey 2010. Observations on house sparrow at Bandel, Hoogly. Proceedings of National Seminar on Biodiversity, Water resource and Climate change issues. Department of Environmental Science, Kalyani University 147 – 152.
§ R. Dhanya, and P.A. Azeez 2010. The House Sparrow Passer domesticus population of Arakku township, Andhra Pradesh, India. Indian Birds 5 (6), 180–181.
§ R.A. Robinson, G.M. Siriwardena, and H.Q.P. Crick, 2005/ Size and trends of the House Sparrow Passer domesticus population in Great Britain. Ibis, 147 552-562.
§ R.J.R. Daniels 2008. Can we save the sparrow. Current Science, 95(11) 1527-1528.
§ R.S. Yadav, 2019. Is the house sparrow out of the woods?. Down to Earth dated June 03, 2019.
§ S. Balaji, S. Baskaran, and J. Pandiarajan 2017. Impact of urbanization on house sparrow population in Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu, India. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 5(4), 493-497.
§ S. Deepalakshmi, and A. Salomi 2019. Impact of urbanization on House sparrow (Passer domesticus) diversity from Erode and Namakkal districts, Tamilnadu, India. Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. 6(11), 22-27.
§ S. Ghosh, K. KiHyun and R. Bhattacharya 2010. A survey on house sparrow population decline at Bandel, West Bengal, India. Journal of Korean Earth Science Society. 31(5) 448- 453.
§ S. Rajashekar and M.G. Venkatesha 2008. Occurrence of house sparrow, Passer domesticus indicus in and around Bangalore. Current Science, 94 (4) 446-449.
§ S.K. Jana 2022. Common threats on House Sparrow in Purba Medinipur District , West Bengal, India. 2 IJCRT 10 (3).
§ T.R. Anderson, 2006. Biology of the Ubiquitous House Sparrow: From Genes to Populations 1st ed. New York, United States of America: Oxford University Press, pp. i-x, 1-547.
§ V.S. Palanippan, 2011. World Sparrow Day observed. The Hindu dated March 21, 2011.
§ V.S. Vijayan, 2003. Where have all the sparrows gone?. Down to Earth dated January 31, 2003.