Vol. 7, Issue 7, Part E (2025)

Feather allies, or Birds, have long coexisted with agricultural ecosystems, playing both direct and indirect roles in enhancing farm productivity, biodiversity, and ecological balance. From pest control and pollination to integrated farming and economic diversification, avians contribute significantly to sustainable agriculture. This ecosystem service supports integrated pest management (IPM) practices and reduces environmental pollution by chemicals. Additionally, many species of birds help to pollinate crops and disperse seeds and, in many cases help to promote biodiversity that can improve crop yields. Diverse avifauna also indicates healthy agro-ecosystems that includes well-managed habitats that provide food and shelter for wildlife. An extension of sustainable agriculture and avifauna conservation, through habitat conservation and agroforestry helps to facilitate the biodiversity of avifauna. For example, rice paddies and orchards, offer mixed cropping systems which provide habitats and food resources for both granivorous, frugivorous and insectivorous birds. These birds contribute to soil health and nutrient cycling, which assists in enhancing sustainable farming systems. Conversely, avifauna face habitat loss and population decline due to land conversion, pesticide exposure, agricultural intensification, loss of organic matter and habitat fragmentation. Each of the issues can interrupt processes initiated by birds and the same effect can be seen with the removal of healthy bird populations. To mitigate these issues, agronomists can also use a few bird-friendly farming practices to mitigate these threats as well as foster a resilient agricultural ecosystem by incorporating hedgerows for pest management, cover crops and reducing the use of pesticide, herbicides, and fertilizers.