Birds In India Suffering From Heat, Deforestation (PHOTO)

A recuperating Kite is fed multi-vitamins at the Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital in Mumbai.

According to the Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA), this year there has been a 25 to 30 percent rise in the incidence of birds suffering from heat-related exhaustion as temperatures across several Indian cities soared in excess of 40 degrees celcius (104 degrees farhenheit). BSPCA officials say birds are forced to fly longer distances before resting due to dwindling tree cover in urban areas, as increased tree felling makes way for Mumbai's rapidly developing infrastructure. (SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images)

Comments

[Suresh Kari]

04:13 PM on 05/11/2009

Most parts of India are now under urban forestry schemes where barren lands are planted with plants. We use to do it 3rd saturday of every month when we were in university. Planting trees in open spaces helps in better management of urban lands. You can't do the same in USA, where would you play GOLF?

[Gasparilla]

09:32 PM on 05/11/2009

Maybe you should worry about India and it's problems.

[SiberianRat]

09:56 AM on 05/13/2009

We BOTH have problems--why so defensive? Instead of knocking SK, why don't you learn about English punctuation (i.e., s/b "its problems").

SK, I've been to Goa and Karnataka--I'm glad your country is paying attention to ecology because you have some beautiful areas with unfortunate pollution and ecology problems.

[socialtalker]

02:57 PM on 05/11/2009

one more thing, central park in new york has probably saved that city in more ways than one.

[socialtalker]

02:56 PM on 05/11/2009

i planted four trees t his spring. maybe i will plant some more in neighborhood this fall. but i live in the us.
i hope india starts a reforestation, shaded perch/nest program real soon.

[NelsonBig]

12:57 PM on 05/11/2009

Bring hemp back. No more deforestation. The forest is renewable. Hemp is sustainable!

[DirtyMoon]

11:27 AM on 05/11/2009

poor birds :(

[VanillaSeven]

11:47 PM on 05/10/2009

Slower population growth might helps.

http://vanillaseven.com/

[giraffedoctor]

09:11 PM on 05/08/2009

Shades, definitely; inexpensive, easy to do, relatively.

[Gasparilla]

05:08 PM on 05/08/2009

Slow population growth. Widespread availability of birth control worldwide and a steep reduction in immigration to this country. But even the discussion is frequently dismissed as racism.

[CanisLupusLogan]

05:59 PM on 05/08/2009

I can't agree more.

[SiberianRat]

09:58 AM on 05/13/2009

Not necessarily racism--but stunningly simplistic and uninformed.

[eus]

05:00 PM on 05/08/2009

Ive successfully nursed baby birds with an eye dropper using raw egg yolk diluted with filtered water.

[orangepetal]

04:36 PM on 05/08/2009

We need urban tree policies.
Trees create shade and cooling, beautify, filter air, consume carbon dioxide, provide high nutrient foods, promote polination and support insect and other bird and wildlife ecosystems. Baby trees are relatively inexpensive, low maintenence is key. Man needs trees. The future needs trees. Trees should not be discarded in urban development. They should be spared or even replanted at other locations if possible.

[hellie]

09:53 PM on 05/09/2009

Complete agreement here, orangepetal. So the solution would be to plant trees...right? Is there an organization that is working toward this, I wonder?

[Gasparilla]

07:53 AM on 05/10/2009

Planting trees is a partial solution, but it doesn't substitute for undeveloped areas. And we have too many people trying to live on the same amount of land.