Ajmer: The purple-rumped sunbird was sighted for the first time in Ajmer Saturday during a bird survey conducted at Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati University (MDSU), marking a significant addition to the region’s biodiversity records. The rare observation has sparked interest among researchers and environmentalists, as the species is generally native to southern India.Professor Subroto Dutta, Head of the Department of Environmental Science, said the bird was observed feeding on the flowers of a Bauhinia tree within the university campus. “This species is usually confined to southern India, and its sighting here is a significant indicator of changing ecological patterns,” he said. The discovery underscores the growing importance of university-led biodiversity studies in understanding how local ecosystems are evolving. Building on this observation, Professor Praveen Mathur added that the bird was recorded during the department’s pre-winter campus bird survey. “The presence of southern species suggests that campus efforts to conserve and enhance plant diversity are supporting ecological balance,” he said, noting that the variety of flora may be attracting new species to the area. Vice-Chancellor Professor Suresh Kumar Agrawal congratulated the team and said the sighting demonstrates how changing climate conditions and vegetation structures are influencing bird distribution. He added that the university will encourage further research into the reasons behind such migratory shifts and continue to enhance campus sustainability efforts. The purple-rumped sunbird (Leptocoma zeylonica), a small, nectar-feeding species also known to consume insects, is typically found in the southern parts of the Indian subcontinent.
