Endangered yellow-breasted bunting in sharp decline

Yellow-breasted bunting (Emberiza aureola), locally known as “Bagale bagedi” belongs to the family “Emberizidae”. It is one of the winter visitors which arrives in Nepal or stopover here and fly to more south in flocks during end of November to early April. This species is a native to the northern hemisphere, traveling from Russia, Mongolia, China and Siberia to avoid harsh cold. Normally, they reside in the southern part of the northern hemisphere for six months.

This species breeds in the forests of Siberia and northeast Asia during the months of summer, then migrate to south Asia during winter seasons where they can forage and roost. Additionally, return to the northern part to breed again and continue this cycle. This bird species inhabits bogs, meadows, mountain tundra, forest steppe, broadleaf forests, open conifer forests, and abandoned fields close to villages during the breeding seasons. They inhabit lowlands to an altitude of 2,000 meters. This species is classified as critically endangered on both global and national levels.  

This bird species forage insects and feed to their chicks during breeding season and in the non-breeding season they feed on seeds and grains. This insectivore and granivore diet are crucial for egg production, healthy development of their chicks while maintaining necessary nutrients to sustain their energy during the migration period. Hence, the YBB population depends on the accessibility of the grains and insects. 

According to BirdLife International, the species’ population is estimated to have declined by 84.3-94.7 percent between 1980 and 2013. Change in agricultural practices and degradation of natural habitats significantly impacts their survival during breeding and migrating seasons. The use of pesticides and insecticides considerably reduces the number of insects which is an important factor of nutrients during breeding season. Scarcity in the number of insects reduces the production of eggs and the health of chicks. Transformation of wetlands, grassland and agricultural lands to other forms, reduces the seed-bearing plant species. Lack of proper nutritious seeds while migrating decreases the chance of survival in harsh cold. Unfortunately, these are not the only factors for the YBB population to decrease. For decades YBB are hunted mostly during migration for foodstuff. Beside this species, 25 other bird species are trapped and sold as bagedi meat which is a matter of concern. It is consumed as gourmet food in China and some parts of southeast Asia, low land of Nepal and also found in local hotels of Kathmandu. There is a belief that they have medicinal properties, warm up bodies in winter and have aphrodisiac properties. It is assumed that a professional trapper can trap 100 to 130 birds in a day and has a transaction of Rs 7,488,000-8,424,000.

Organizing awareness campaigns, and community participation in bird monitoring, and conservation activities should be called on a regular basis. Promoting perma-agriculture, urban forestry, and other activities that benefit the bird should be promoted. This helps in maintaining its population. Implementing strong regulations to protect from hunting for consumption, restrictions on the sale of its meat and imposing penalty for poaching helps in its conservation. As this is a migratory bird, mapping the migratory routes’ wintering and stopover locations might be the major points in conservation by making a clear and sound environment in its migrating route, locally and internationally. 

Conclusion

The YBB helps in controlling the population of insects and scattering of seeds. Not only that, it also serves the purpose of food for the predator in the wide range of land in the migration route. As a migratory bird it transfers nutrients and energy between different ecosystems. Its conservation promotes ecotourism by attracting bird watchers and helps local communities by economic empowerment. In contrast, if this species is conserved and can increase the population, it can somewhat increase the economic status of trap hunters in livelihood. YBB is one of the good indicator species of the grassland, wetland and agriculture ecosystem. Its decline in populations in past decades indicates something negative has changed in this natural environment.