Indore: The sparrow population is declining by 70% in certain places specially cities, according to a research. A possible reason for urban decline of house sparrow is electromagnetic radiation as stated in the study by Balmori and Hallberg in 2007. As the Sparrow Week concluded, several activities were organised at city zoo on Sunday. A bike rally was organised in city that started from city zoo to raise awareness about the bird. Participants installed nest boxes, water feeders and planted saplings to attract birds in farmhouses around the city.
Free Press talked to volunteers about sparrows. Excerpts
What They Say…
“Urban lifestyle is damaging their habitat. Sparrows prefer to live in crevices and holes of man-made structures rather than naturally occurring nesting sites in forests or woodlands. We should have some trees around us to stay healthy. We should plant more trees to give homes to house sparrows.”
Kabir Menon
“Earlier, our doors and windows would remain open all day while people sat and cleaned food grains at home. Shopkeepers would also keep grains for sale in open sacks, quite unlike packed grains sold in shops and closed supermarkets today. The birds have lost the luxury of flying indoors for a quick bite.”
Riddhi Sharma
“Sparrows play a vital role in food chain. They feed on small insects and worms like caterpillars, beetles and aphids. Some of these creatures destroy plants. Sparrow helps to keep their numbers in check. In turn, they also serve as prey for larger birds like hawks and snakes.”
Namita Sharma
