House crows aid efforts to enhance green cover across arid Rayalaseema

…June. The study claims that they eat 30 to 40 fruits in one sitting and disperse the seeds through their droppings across villages, fields, tank bunds and semi-urban roads a kilometre or two away from the parent tree. “ This process, called endozoochory, is silently contributing to natural regeneration. Our team marked droppings around the Penakacherla dam foreshore and the SK University campus in Anantapur, forest fringes in Annamayya district, the Idupulapaya road in Kadapa, Kallur tank bund and Nandikotkur road in Kurnool, Tiruchanur Avenue and Chandragiri roadside in Tirupati. The data shows about a 2% increase in urban greenery in parts of Rayalaseema, not just from plantations but from birds ,” he said. Meanwhile, Ramakrishna (72), a retired railway employee from Dharmavaram town, informed the research team that earlier, only jilledu and thorny shrubs were found on the local tank bund. “But now, neem…

…but from birds,” he said. Meanwhile, Ramakrishna (72), a retired railway employee from Dharmavaram town, informed the research team that earlier, only jilledu and thorny shrubs were found on the local tank bund. “ But now, neem saplings have started to appear without being planted, thanks to the crows ,” he said. Similar reports have come from Vempalli near Kadapa, Kasapuram and Kadiri temple lands, Penukonda and Gooty Fort hillocks, and the Tadipatri Penna bund. Villagers on the outskirts of Rayadurg said that close…

…sizes nearly 50% lower than in 2015. The cutting of age-old trees for road widening, garbage burning and covered garbage bins introduced under cleanliness drives are believed to be among the reasons for their decline. “ Afforestation initiatives in the Nallamala stretches of Nandyal and the Lankamala Wildlife Sanctuary in Kadapa require water, labour, and fencing, but bird-assisted regeneration needs only protection. The selection of spots for this natural way of planting by crows or any other bird species is incredible and foolproof. Individuals and public groups only have to protect old, fruit-bearing native trees on various…