There is a pertinent need to protect the birds of the Nilgiris by installing nest boxes, feeding and providing them with water, said P.J. Vasanthan, Deputy Director of Medical Services of The Nilgiris. He was speaking on the subject ‘Birds of Nilgiris' at the Enviro Meet organised by Osai. Endemic Mr. Vasanthan said that the total species of the Nilgiris are 279 of 62 families. Of these 279 bird species, 52 are migrants, nine are local migrants, 18 are endemic to Western Ghats, eight are nearly threatened species, five are vulnerable species, three are endangered species and three critically endangered species. He said that total geographical area of Nilgiris district is 2,500 sq km at an altitude ranging from the deepest Moyyar gorge at 300 m altitude to the highest point of Dodabetta peak at an altitude of 2,600 m. The Nilgiris district has a total human population of 7.3 lakh. Nilgiris district is geographically divided into four regions i.e., Nilgiris Plateau, South Eastern outer slopes, Segur plateau and the Nilgiris Wayanad Plateau. Main threats for birds in the Nilgiris plateau are global warming and mismanagement of grasslands and marshlands. In Segur plateau, the threats are incorrect zoning of the landscape, forest fires, unregulated tourism, manipulation forestry, exotic plant species, etc.