Man vs Wild

Did you do know over 83% of our terrestrial biosphere is under direct influence of humans? Just as our lives are changing constantly through urbanization and rapid introduction of new tools and technologies, the ecology that surrounds us is also changing - probably at an alarmingly faster rate than it really should be. One always wondered how our fellow-beings, plants, birds and animals, cope with such a change.

There may be some good news.

Mammals have learnt to cross major roads and railways. Plants have adapted to grow on roof-tops. In fact, the urban areas are swarming with biodiversity in close competition with wilderness. But, what about birds? After all, they are the ones most studied to understand animal response to urbanization.

The photograph here is a strong testament to concur that birds are extremely well adaptive. Belonging to sparrow family, the black-bird is seen here using a metal-rod as a launchpad to assist in its hunting. Adaptations of these kinds may come in several other forms. 'Great tits' - another bird family have developed a wide frequency range that they adjust to local noise levels. If the trends do continue in a similar manner - a likely scenario - there may even be an evolutionary response of the kinds we have never seen. Males of dark-eyed junco, a kind of a sparrow, are already showing loss of white striations on their tails in urban environments, where there is less competition for mating. While it is great that nature is able to accommodate in this way, the real question is, how far along can it stretch before completely back-firing upon us - the answer maybe unsettling.