When Birds Speak The Nature Whisper | Dr. Bushra Nisar Khan | TEDxPunjab University

The Silent Language of Nature and the Disappearance of Birds

• Nature does not need words to express itself, as it can convey its message through various forms such as sound, color, and the fragile wings of birds, making it clear that the beauty of nature is being lost day by day, especially when a city loses its soul, which is often marked by the disappearance of birds 10s.
• The disappearance of birds is a sign of the dying nature and an alarming situation, as they are not only beautiful creatures but also bio-indicators of a healthy ecosystem, telling us about the condition of our health and the health of the environment, such as whether the water is clear, the air is pure, and the arteries are able to function properly 42s.
• Birds play a very important and biologically important role in the ecosystem, and their increase or decrease symbolizes the health of the ecosystem, making them natural scientists and teachers who can teach us the way to live, as when birds thrive, the ecosystem thrives 2m6s.

Urbanization and the Loss of Bird Habitats

• To be a conservationist, it is not necessary to be in a jungle, as one can start their journey as an ornithologist and conservationist even in a city, such as Lahore, where the urban settlement of the metropolis can be a starting point for learning about and protecting birds 2m6s.
• The first encounter with the tragedy of bird loss can be a turning point, such as witnessing the pain of birds when a big mango tree is cut down in the neighborhood, and many birds lose their homes, highlighting the need to take action to protect these creatures and their habitats 10s.
• The experience of a parakeet becoming homeless and struggling to find shelter is a painful one, and this pain is also felt when someone becomes homeless, and when trees are cut down due to deforestation, highlighting the importance of conservation 10s.

Early Encounters with Wildlife and Conservation

• The interaction with nature at the Lahore Zoo in 2004 was a turning point, and it was the first live interaction with wildlife and birds, which made it clear that conservation is not just about protection and management, but also about understanding and listening to what wildlife and animals are saying 42s.
• The Lahore Zoo taught a valuable lesson about the dangers of plastic bags, as crows would bring leftover food and plastic shopping bags into the cages of deer and herbivores, who would then eat the plastic bags, which would ultimately lead to their death, with autopsies revealing 7 to 8 kilograms of plastic bags in their stomachs 2m6s.
• The management of the Lahore Zoo decided to ban the use of plastic shopping bags on the premises and to stop feeding the birds and other animals, but the crows continued to steal food and plastic bags from outside the zoo and offer them to the other animals 2m6s.

The Impact of Human Activities on Wildlife

• The innocent wildlife is being disturbed, and an example of this is when crows disturb camels by pecking at their backs and causing wounds that ooze blood, which is a result of human carelessness and not the fault of the crows 10s.
• Humans are replacing songbirds with crows and other opportunistic feeders, but nature has also developed beautiful ecological linkages, such as when sparrows and babblers sing and feed on the ectoparasites of hippos, rhinos, and camels, creating a mutually beneficial relationship 42s.
• A study published in the Journal of Sustainability, Geography, and Environment in 2024 found that urban areas hold fewer songbirds, with 20-50% fewer species compared to other areas, and that rapid urbanization in metropolitan Lahore has increased nearly three times from 1991 to 2013, leading to deforestation, habitat destruction, and solid waste 2m6s.

Urbanization and the Decline of Songbirds

• This urbanization has promoted the growth of opportunistic birds, which take over and keep the population of songbirds down in the city, and as previously stated, when a city loses its soul, it loses its birds first 2m6s.

Academic Journey and Research in Ornithology

• A turning point in life was in 2011 when an opportunity arose to teach at the University of the Punjab as a teacher of zoology, where the chance was given to teach future nationalists, conservationists, and biologists 4m30s.
• The PhD research focused on the wetlands and migratory birds of Pakistan, with a five-year survey of the Mangla Wetland using equipment such as binoculars, GPS, and a favorite book, "The Birds of Pakistan" by Primaf 10s.
• After completing the PhD, a decision was made to contribute to the field of ornithology and the diversity of the Punjab University, which has a beautiful environment with chirping birds, blooming flowers, and vibrant colors, inspiring the writing of "Birds of the University of Punjab", a project that took three years to complete 42s.

Bird Diversity and Human Influence on Campus Ecosystems

• The research team noticed changes in the diversity of birds and how human activities shape biodiversity, with the most species richness documented at the Quaid-e-Azam campus, where 67 types of species were found, and the least species were reported in the old campus 2m6s.
• The indicator species were different in each area, with some areas having a high number of species but a declining population, and the most popular and abundant birds of Punjab University were the crow kite and pigeon in the old campus 2m6s.
• The team found that some bird species, such as the owl pigeon, were moving towards the Gujrawala campus, while others, like the myna, bulbul, and parakeets, were moving towards the Jinnah and Jhelum area, where the jungle atmosphere was intact, and various beautiful sunbirds, including the myna, koel, and others, were found 2m6s.

Observations and Challenges in Campus Bird Research

• At the Khanspur Ayubia campus, the team found species such as the white-throated fantail, finches, and tits, and noticed an alarming trend of monkeys stealing food from people, highlighting the impact of human activity on the environment 2m6s.
• Wildlife conflict is prevalent in Punjab University, where crows used to snatch food from students and residents, but a tragedy occurred, and the memory of a mother's death is still remembered, who left this world and returned to heaven, where she now lives with the birds, and she taught that mothers are always givers and do not demand anything, 10s.

Family and Community Involvement in Conservation

• The journey of success is not just about individual efforts, but also about the support of family, including a husband, and even children, who have reported seven bird species in the University of Punjab, which have been documented, 2m6s.

The Effects of Waste and Human Behavior on the Environment

• The sight of garbage during term time and vacation, when people leave the least amount of garbage, allows for more crows, more songbirds, and a healthier environment, and it is essential to think about the world every day, 42s.
• A kingfisher dives into the canal to catch fish, and a swallow builds its house using natural materials, but also uses plastic and human trash, which is a sign of the times, where every morning, every bird sees the day just for survival, without any choice, 10s.
• Humans have the choice to make a difference, but they are choosing to wait and delay, and it is essential to make a change before the planet is totally wrapped in plastic, 2m6s.

The Campus as a Microcosm of Environmental Responsibility

• The campus is a beautiful place where people come to learn, take pictures, and make memories, and in return, it is offered plastic bags, foam cups, and bottles, which can be changed by making an effort to make the campus greener and more beautiful for future generations 10s.
• It is essential to start taking care of the campus and the planet by picking up a single plastic bottle and retaining the beauty of the campus, which is a paradise in the middle of a populated and polluted city in Pakistan 42s.
• The campus has a unique environment where flowers are more bloomed, and the air is cooler, and this planet, campus, and universe need attention from everyone because it has paid a lot, and now it's time to pay back 1m15s.

Ethical Reflections and the Role of Humanity

• A quote from the poem "Hamdardi" by Allama Muhammad Iqbal is remembered, which says that only those people are good who do good for others, and to be good is not just to be good with human beings, but to be good with every creature, living and non-living part of the universe 2m6s.
• The beauty of Punjab University is experienced during an evening walk after sunset, where a large number of fireflies can be seen moving here and there, and it's up to everyone to decide what they want the planet to be like for a happy planet 3m20s.