A Memorable Return of Harriers to India’s Dwindling Grasslands: 8 Silent Visitors

With the early onset of winter winds, harriers have begun arriving across India’s grasslands, marking their annual migration from Central Asia, Mongolia, Afghanistan, and parts of Europe. These elegant raptors, known for their low-flight hunting style, rely heavily on undisturbed open habitats to survive their winter stay. However, conservationists warn that the grassland ecosystems which once welcomed thousands of harriers every year are shrinking rapidly due to encroachment, agricultural expansion, and development projects. Their arrival this year highlights the fragile future of grassland-dependent species and the urgent need to rethink conservation strategies beyond forests and wetlands.

Loss of native grasslands also affects pastoral communities who depend on them for grazing. Villages that traditionally relied on open commons for livestock now face shrinking fodder resources, pushing herders to sell animals or buy costly feed. Conservationists argue that saving grasslands is not merely about protecting birds, but about sustaining long-standing rural economies. In places where grassland restoration has been attempted through native species planting and regulated grazing, both pastoral livelihoods and wildlife have shown signs of revival. This demonstrates that conservation does not have to oppose local communities; instead, it can support them through shared ecological goals.

Another emerging concern is the unregulated installation of solar power plants on grassland ecosystems. While renewable energy projects are vital for climate goals, conservationists say that many installations are built directly over important roosting areas without ecological assessments. Large solar farms require land clearance and fencing, which block access to prey and remove native vegetation. As a result, a project meant to fight climate change inadvertently displaces species that regulate grassland ecology. Experts suggest that renewable energy planning must avoid critical biodiversity sites and prioritise degraded lands instead of intact native grasslands.

Poaching and disturbance also threaten harriers, especially when communal roosts are not adequately protected. Harriers prefer to nest on the ground or in low vegetation, which makes them vulnerable to stray dogs, cattle trampling, and illegal hunting. Birdwatchers report that in some regions, roosting birds are disturbed by night-time vehicular movement or intentional fires lit for land clearing. These activities force birds to abandon safe sites and waste essential energy reserves needed for migration. Strict regulation, especially during peak roosting seasons, could help reduce such disturbances and protect vulnerable flocks.

Some state governments and conservation groups have begun discussing the creation of community-led grassland reserves. Such reserves would allow traditional grazing while preserving roosting areas and prey bases for migratory birds. Instead of excluding people, these reserves encourage coexistence by training locals to monitor roosts and prevent disturbances. This approach recognises that habitat protection is most effective when communities feel ownership over biodiversity resources. Ecologists believe that the success of such models could push policymakers to re-evaluate how land use is planned in grassland regions.

Education and awareness remain crucial for safeguarding harriers. Many local residents are unaware of how significant these winter visitors are to agriculture and biodiversity. Workshops in schools, farmer training sessions, and public events centred around roost counts help create a conservation mindset at the grassroots level. Once people understand that these birds help protect fields from pests, they are more willing to protect their habitats. Some farmers have even begun adopting harrier-friendly practices such as retaining patches of native grass or avoiding pesticide use during peak migration months.

Ultimately, the annual arrival of harriers is a reminder that migration patterns that have existed for centuries are now under unprecedented threat. As grasslands disappear, the skies lose not only the birds that travel from distant lands, but also the ecological protections they bring. The future of harriers in India will depend on whether governments, communities, and industries recognise the value of grassland ecosystems. Safeguarding these open habitats is not just about saving a migratory raptor—it is about preserving a delicate network of life, livelihoods, and landscapes that define the subcontinent’s drylands.

Harriers belong to a group of migratory birds that prefer open, wide landscapes with natural grass cover for roosting and feeding. The species most commonly spotted in India during winter include the pallid harrier, Montagu’s harrier, and the western marsh harrier. Historically, large flocks would gather in communal roosting sites, particularly in regions like the Deccan plateau, Kutch, Rajasthan plains, and central Karnataka. Birdwatchers and researchers say that while harriers continue to return, the flock sizes are noticeably smaller than in previous decades. Many now struggle to find safe roosting spaces as grasslands turn into croplands, industrial zones, or real estate layouts.

The migration of harriers is one of the most remarkable journeys undertaken by raptors, covering thousands of kilometres across continents. Their arrival signals the beginning of the winter ecological cycle, where they feed on locusts, small reptiles, insects, rodents, and other prey. This natural predation helps control pests in agriculture, making harriers allies of farmers rather than ecological competitors. Yet, many grasslands are being converted for commercial plantations and solar farms without evaluating their impacts on raptors. Experts argue that grasslands are wrongly perceived as “wastelands,” leading to policies that promote development in these areas without biodiversity assessments.

Bird researchers warn that the loss of grasslands also threatens the nesting habitats of resident species like the Indian courser, larks, floricans, and numerous reptiles and insects that form the prey base for harriers. Without food security, migratory birds may arrive only to starve or move further south in search of suitable feeding grounds. Some studies suggest that changing rainfall patterns and prolonged monsoon cycles have altered the arrival timings and roosting behaviour of harriers. While climate change affects migration routes, habitat destruction blocks crucial stopover points that birds need to rest and feed during long journeys.

Grasslands Under Threat from Rapid Land Conversion

Many ecologists emphasize that grasslands are among the most neglected ecosystems in Indian conservation policy. While forests receive protection under various laws, grasslands continue to lack legal recognition as biodiversity-rich habitats. In several states, common grazing lands, savannahs, and scrublands are leased out for developmental projects as non-productive land. This perception overlooks their role in supporting migratory birds, pollinators, and grazing ecosystems that sustain livestock-based rural economies.

Reports from field researchers highlight that communal harrier roosts are shrinking in number and size. Areas that once hosted hundreds of birds now hold only a few dozen. Expansion of monoculture plantations, including eucalyptus and commercial grasses, has altered natural vegetation. In some regions, invasive plant species like Prosopis juliflora crowd out native shrubs and grasses, rendering the landscape unsuitable for low-flying predators. Urban expansion has added another layer of threat as fragmented grass patches cannot support the prey base required by harriers.

Agriculture plays a complex role in this transformation. While harriers benefit farmers by controlling pests, rapid mechanisation and pesticide use reduce grassland insects and rodents. Short-term crops that replace traditional grazing fields erase nesting grounds and feeding sites. Even when harriers arrive, they often avoid pesticide-laced fields, making large stretches of agricultural land useless as hunting grounds. Conservationists argue that sustainable agriculture policies must incorporate bird-friendly practices, including controlled pesticide usage, seasonal patches of unploughed land, and maintaining native grasses along field boundaries.

Why Harriers Matter to Local Ecology

The survival of harriers is intricately linked to the overall health of dryland ecosystems. Their presence indicates a balanced food chain, healthy insect populations, and intact habitats. Ecologically, harriers act as regulators, maintaining population control among fast-breeding prey such as locusts, which can become agricultural pests if unchecked. Farmers in states like Rajasthan and Gujarat unknowingly benefit from this natural pest management system. Some researchers claim that the economic value of harriers as pest control agents far exceeds the monetary returns from converting grasslands into short-term commercial projects.

Harriers also serve as umbrella species for grassland conservation. Protecting their roosting areas indirectly safeguards entire ecosystems, supporting mammals such as foxes, wild hares, and small herbivores, as well as several ground-nesting birds. The loss of harriers could trigger cascading ecological imbalances that extend beyond raptors, affecting crop health, pollinator diversity, and rural livelihoods linked to livestock grazing. Ecologists warn that without protection, grassland collapse would parallel the sudden decline of vultures experienced in the 1990s.

Citizen science is proving to be a powerful tool in tracking harrier populations. Birdwatchers, local communities, and conservation groups are increasingly documenting roosting numbers and migration timings. Such data has helped identify declining patterns and prompted discussions on policy change. Some regions now conduct roost counts during winter, involving farmers and local youth. These initiatives not only gather crucial information but also build awareness about the ecological value of grasslands, fostering community-driven conservation.

For effective protection, experts recommend designating critical grassland zones as conservation reserves rather than forest lands. Traditional policies that prioritize dense forests fail to protect open landscapes. Conservationists argue that India’s environmental laws must evolve to include grasslands as unique ecosystems rather than degraded forests. This shift in classification could restrict industrial land-use change and encourage sustainable grazing, natural vegetation restoration, and eco-sensitive tourism centred on winter migratory birds.

The arrival of harriers every winter is more than a seasonal migration—it is a reminder of the fragile relationship between climate, land, and living species that travel across continents to survive. Their journey underscores the interconnectedness of global ecosystems and the consequences of local habitat neglect. As policymakers debate development priorities, harriers continue to fly thousands of kilometres, trusting that grasslands will welcome them.

Whether these birds will keep returning in large numbers depends on decisions made today. If grasslands continue to shrink, the silence of vanished wings may one day replace this winter spectacle. Protecting harriers means protecting an ecosystem that supports both biodiversity and human livelihoods. Their arrival brings beauty, balance, and ecological value. It now rests with society to ensure that the skies remain open and the ground remains habitable for these winter migrants, whose presence silently speaks of nature’s resilience.