Chhidiyaa..uddd gayi (Dwindling number of House Sparrows)

I remember during early childhood, whenever we spoke about `chidiya', it was always the house sparrow that one thought of. It is really sad that their numbers have declined and there is nothing that we have been able to do about it till now.

The fluffy brown sparrows (scientific name: Passer domesticus), are 15cm in length and distributed all over India up to 4000m in the Himalayas. The disappearance of sparrows has been widely reported in India. According to a report, the sparrow population in Andhra Pradesh alone had dropped by 80 per cent, and in other states like Kerala, Gujarat and Rajasthan, it had dipped by 20 per cent, while the decline in coastal areas was as sharp as 70 to 80 per cent. However, reliable information on sparrow population is still not available. No one is counting and keeping a record of the number of sparrows. And that’s what has been adding to its dwindling population- sheer negligence.

It's not the urban habitat but the excessive use of pesticides, gradual decrease in nesting sites and food sources which are to be blamed. Also, introduction of unleaded petrol, use of chemically treated seeds and reduction in areas of free growing weeds are also possible reasons for this disappearance.

The most recent reason for their disappearance is the mobile phone tower. The flow of electromagnetic waves from cell phone towers is capable of destroying the life in the eggs thereby making them incapable of hatching.

Climate changes are evidently making our lives difficult for survival, then how come these small little creatures be not affected?

Small little measures from our end can ensure the sustenance of sparrows in the future. Otherwise, the time is not far when house sparrows will be viewed only on Google.

Firstly, we can sprinkle grains on our terraces which would provide them with food.

Secondly, placing bowls of clean water will help in quenching their thirst, more so now with summers approaching.

And most importantly, we all should focus on raising awareness of declining numbers of house sparrow and discuss about the seriousness of the issue amongst friends/relatives/neighbours and jointly take necessary action.

The sparrows are species that have evolved with humans and are always found in and around human habitations.

Since they have always been around us, a nest box provided to them is willingly accepted by them. As the nest boxes replicate their natural nesting site.

This not only helps the house sparrows' ecological need of food and safe nesting place but also helps in establishing emotional attachment to house sparrows, which has been lost somewhere.

More so, this decline in the number of house sparrows is a significant bio-indicator that there is something wrong in the whole eco-system which could be or is harmful for human beings as well.

When our environment is not able to support the survival of a small sparrow then it is a matter of great concern.

- This article is written by Neha Pradhan, executive member at Green Team Welfare Society.