Birds and biodiversity

Birds are not on this planet just for birdwatchers to enjoy or for twitchers to make lists. The benefits of birdwatching are well documented: it connects us with nature, reduces stress, makes us aware of our environment, gives us exercise, provides sensory and cognitive stimulation, and more. Birdwatching is very accessible and can be done around the world or in our own back yards.

Birds though, are not just useful for our cultural, emotional, or physical benefit. Birds play an essential role in keeping our natural environment healthy and productive, and they are good bio-indicators.

Birds help control pests. The Straw-necked Ibis and Australian White Ibis are often referred to as the farmer’s friend for their appetite for locusts. The Black-shouldered Kite is an excellent rodent hunter. Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike populations irrupt when there is a plague of caterpillars. Pardalotes, thornbills, whistlers, and other foliage species help to keep leaf-eating insects under control.

L: Australian White Ibis. R: Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

Many birds are effective pollinators as they inadvertently transfer pollen from plant to plant. Nectar eaters, the honeyeater families, are particularly good at this – New Holland Honeyeater, Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, the wattlebirds and dozens more, are good examples. Healthy plant communities rely on pollination for reliable reproduction and genetic vigour. Even insectivorous bird species – thornbills, wrens, flycatchers, etc. – will at times act as pollinating vectors because their insect diet is often obtained within the vicinity of pollen-bearing flowers.

L: New Holland Honeyeater. R: Little Wattlebird

Fruit and seed-eating birds are often responsible for the natural distribution of many plant species. Plants cannot migrate and so must rely on the wind, water, birds, or other animals to spread their seeds. Birds can travel large distances in a short time and so become a plant’s best friend when it comes to seed dispersal. Pigeons, bowerbirds, parrots, Silvereyes, Mistletoebirds, are all well-known seed dispersers.

L: Crested Pigeon. R: Mistletoebird

Scavenger species like eagles, kites, hawks, ravens, currawongs, etc., help prevent the spread of disease by breaking down the carcasses of dead animals and returning their nutrients to the environment. Scavengers help keep roadsides, farmlands, parks, forests, etc., free of carrion and detritus.

L: Wedge-tailed Eagle. R: Pied Currawong

Nowadays, birds are frequently used to monitor environmental conditions. Bird monitoring and bird surveys are frequently carried out to assess the habitat value, evidence of pollution, effects of climate change, outbreak of disease, degradation due to human interference, biodiversity, etc.

Not just beautiful. Useful too