Bring back the 'House Sparrow' to our City

DID ANYONE of us notice that the “House Sparrow” is vanishing from our city and homes. Small, plump and cheeky, this house bird started disappearing from our city. The house sparrow is a familiar bird that has declined rapidly and even disappeared from parts of Delhi.

Dwindling numbers of house sparrows in the urban areas is a matter of concern. Their non-appearance in localities where they ruled is worrying.

Many reasons have been given for their apparent “disappearance”. Old houses had eaves and tiles that were comfortable perches to build nests on but modern building no longer have these and so we have lost these “feathered neighbours”.

Urbanization has done away home gardens, which had worms and insects for the young sparrows. Recent studies show that the house sparrow population is rapidly declining due to changes in agricultural activity. Use of pesticides in the fields that were essential feed for their chicks. So we can imagine their impact on such a small bird.

The most recent reason for disappearance is the mobile phone towers. The waves from the tower are capable of destroying the life in the eggs and eggs become incapable of hatching.

Climate changes make human life difficult for survival, why not for bird species.

It is really sad that their numbers have declined and there is nothing that we have been able to do about it yet. Only we can do for them is that we can sprinkle grains on the verandah/terrace of our houses.

Secondly, feed platforms might help the birds come back.

Thirdly, clean water can be kept for them.

Fourthly, pots with straw can be hung as nesting sites.

Fifthly, lead environmentally healthy lives so that birds too can survive.

Sixthly, say no to pesticides in your homes. Use organic repellents.

Seventhly, focus on raising awareness of declined numbers of house sparrow and throw light on the problems faced by the house sparrow in its daily fight for survival.