In the history of studying ecology, birds have always served as models to understand more about the natural world. In the context of our work in the Trans-Himalayas, any study would be incomplete without addressing the role of birds. Over time, the region has experienced significant changes due to expanding agriculture, grazing, and development and previous studies have shown that such changes are key drivers of biodiversity loss on a global scale. This raises an important question: how are birds in the Trans-Himalayas affected as their habitats undergo transformation?

For over two decades, we have been asking this very question and in 2002 our team began a pioneering effort to monitor bird populations in the Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh. This study is one of the longest-running bird monitoring programs in India and it reached a significant milestone in 2023 when we analysed over two decades of data to understand how land use changes affect bird communities and their population densities.

Our findings reveal that each habitat supports a distinct bird community, closely linked to the intensity of land use. More intensively used habitats, such as agricultural fields and grazed meadows, tend to support hardy generalists like the ever-familiar House Sparrow. In contrast, less disturbed habitats, such as grazed and ungrazed steppes, are home to specialist species like the elusive Himalayan Snowcock.

Agriculture fields, enriched with organic manure and irrigation, attract the highest bird densities but lack diversity—think of it as a bustling city with fewer unique faces. On the other hand, ungrazed steppes, teeming with insectivores, emerge as biodiversity hotspots, showcasing the valley’s rich avian heritage. Grazed steppes and meadows hosted fewer birds and struggled to support sensitive species like Desert Wheatear- a long-distance migrant, suggesting that these grazed habitats are generally less favourable for birds. These trends remained consistent over the years.

Looking ahead, we aim to explore year-to-year fluctuations in bird densities and how bird communities adapt to resource scarcity and climate change. However, our existing data provide a clear directive: holistic land management practices are essential to balance biodiversity conservation and human livelihoods in Spiti. The valley’s organic farming traditions and its vast, untamed landscapes hold the key to a sustainable future. By working together with local communities, we can ensure that Spiti remains a haven for its wildlife while supporting the people who call it home.