Dear reader,

Diwali greetings from the Common Ground team!

This week, we have a story about our relationship with the bird species that has seen the highest increase in population in India since 2000, largely because, as noted in the State of India’s Birds report, it has “successfully adapted to live in human habitation, to nest on human structures, and to feed on whatever humans provide”.

If you haven’t already guessed, the bird we are referring to is the pigeon.
It is common to see pigeons being fed fondly on traffic islands and footpaths in Indian cities. Many equate feeding the birds with “punya ka kaam” or a good deed.

But perhaps what these enthusiasts don’t know is that the rise in the population of pigeons is now associated with an increase in hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a disease also known by the name bird fancier’s lung, which causes lung scarring, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath and prolonged cough.

While reporting this story for Common Ground, Vaishnavi Rathore met bird sellers, pet owners, and those who feed pigeons. She said she was struck by their lack of awareness of the impact of the bird on human health. “It's possibly the only story I have reported where when I told the premise of the story to people I was interviewing, they laughed with amusement.” 

Do read her story here and tell us what you thought about it.

Why India needs to rethink its love for pigeons

The practice of feeding the birds has led to unnatural spikes in their population. Their close proximity to humans poses grave risks to pulmonary health.

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Supriya Sharma,
Executive Editor
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