Logging and climate change threatening Himalayan birds: IISc

A study from IISc reveals that logging and climate change pose a threat to bird communities in the eastern Himalayas. The researchers analyzed data on understory insect-eating birds in the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary. Logged forests have higher temperatures and lower humidity, causing birds to reach unsuitable habitats sooner. The decline in insect availability in logged areas affects understory insectivores, while larger birds suffer due to forest loss and decreased diversity. Protecting primary forests across elevation gradients is crucial for bird species to adapt to climate change.