Human Activities Alter the Call of the Beautiful Himalayan Monal Bird
Image source, Rajeev Lochan
Two Indian research studies reveal that rapid human activities have impacted the Himalayan monal, a native bird of the region, and altered its communication methods.
This local Himalayan bird holds deep cultural significance tied to traditions, folk songs, and regional identity. It is the national bird of Nepal and recognized as the state bird of Uttarakhand in India, reflecting its cultural importance in the Himalayas.
However, the studies highlight that infrastructure development and tourism are shrinking their habitats and increasing noise pollution, which is changing their communication style.
Researchers in Uttarakhand conducted two studies over more than five years, identifying key threats to the monals.
One study revealed the birds were forced to inhabit higher Himalayan plateaus rather than the lower forested cutting zones where trees were concentrated. In busy valleys, monals have even modified their calls to be heard over the noise.
“These studies provide crucial insight into species at risk. If monals have to change their calls and habitats, how will other sensitive species compete?” said environmentalist Vishal Singh from the Himalayan region.
Research Findings on Habitat Changes
Rajeev Lochan, lead researcher of both studies, told that limited habitats and seasonal migration patterns motivated a focus on the monal. This indicates the monal as an environmental indicator for the broader Himalayan ecosystem.
“If this species experiences pressure in a particular region, environmental disruptions may similarly affect other birds,” Lochan added.
Image source, Rajeev Lochan
The studies indicate that unregulated tourism and rapid urbanization challenge the fragile Himalayan environment and affect monal populations.
This region, abundant in natural beauty and biodiversity, has always attracted tourists, trekkers, and researchers. Recent decades have seen accelerated infrastructure development, extending human access and concerning wildlife conservationists. Coupled with climate change, the region’s biodiversity faces growing threats.
“Multiple factors are at play, but from a broader perspective, the region’s economic growth is inconsistent with environmental integrity,” Singh explained.
The first study predicts that climate change will reduce and destabilize monal habitats in the Indian Himalayas by 2100.
Currently, monals are found in Himalayan plateaus, areas above the forests that serve as crucial seasonal grazing grounds rich in biodiversity.
Researchers examined how climate change might shift monal habitats in Himalayan states like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh using mapping models aligned with greenhouse gas emission scenarios proposed by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
“The birds are moving towards higher Himalayan zones they can access; human activity is pushing them beyond their natural habitats,” the study found.
Image source, Rajeev Lochan
The study also accepts that monals still require the plateau climate, although this is not yet fully confirmed.
Researchers warn climate change threatens monal seasonal patterns and restricts their populations to small, isolated high-altitude patches. This may cause population fragmentation, breeding challenges, and long-term risk of extinction.
What Changes Are Seen in the Monal’s Call?
A second study led by Lochan, Dinesh Kumar Sharma, and Anand Kumar of HNB Garhwal University focused on changes in monal behavior.
The research compared Kedarnath Kasturi Deer Wildlife Sanctuary and Madmaheshwar—two locations with differing levels of tourist and vehicle activity.
From April 2023 to April 2024, over 700 monal calls were recorded using microphones and sound recorders. The analysis measured pitch, duration, and background noise levels.
The study found monals in noisier areas produced higher-pitched calls compared to those in quieter environments.
Researchers noted subtle changes in the calls, undetectable to the human ear but captured by monitoring equipment.
“This doesn’t mean monals permanently or genetically changed their voices. Their call varied behaviorally depending on the environment,” Lochan explained.
Monals in Chopta, an area with more human activity, emitted shorter calls adapted to the noisy conditions compared to those in the quieter Madmaheshwar region.
Birdsong is vital to natural soundscapes, and interference can impact their breeding processes.
Professor Anjal Prakash from FLAME University remarked, “When species must raise call pitch to compete with tourist vehicle noise, filling these once serene plateaus, it shows how human pressure is altering Himalayan natural laws.”
Lochan and his team characterize these as preliminary findings with intentions to expand their research.
While the studies do not provide conclusive evidence on environmental impacts, they highlight human-induced pressures in the Himalayan region.
“Listening to monal calls helps us understand the urgent need for open spaces, quiet, and conservation in this region.”
More content on this topic is available through YouTube channels and social media based in Kathmandu.