Save the Animals| Sparrow| Save the Species| Protect the Animals
We all have memories of birds chirping in our childhood, one of the most common birds that we as children used to relate to the animal- bird and the one which we used to watch all day in our balconies, terraces, gardens and even inside our houses. This bird was none other than the Sparrow.
We used
to see them in all parts of the cities, old monuments, urban buildings and
households and I still remember, these used to nest inside my house in Lucknow which I used to live before.
These used to come inside my house and even nested on top of my window grill
and cupboard.
I still remember that I used to switch off the fan as soon as it
arrived inside so that it may not be killed by the fan blade. It was such a
treat to watch the sparrow all-around existing, nesting and thriving.
 |
Sparrow
|
But soon that days got over and so the sparrows too.
Recently when I was remembering my childhood, I was suddenly amazed to see that
there are no sparrows around me today. I cannot see even a single one in the
sky. So is the breed extinct in today’s world, I wondered.
Actually, when I researched
about the sparrows, it was very depressing to note that Sparrows are on the
verge of extinction today not only in India but worldwide. Some may be still
found if one looks for them in the outskirts of the urban cities but that too
in really fewer numbers as compared to what it was before 8-10 years.
This fall in numbers of Sparrows in such a small time frame
of a couple of years is very alarming. Actually because of the wider population of
sparrows in the urban cities and their habitat existence in the urban environment was the biological indicator of the healthy ecosystem around the
urban cities and these sparrows were one of the only sort of connections of
people with nature. But the sudden decline in the Sparrow population has raised
serious concerns about the ecological imbalance which is increasing with
passing times.
Sparrows have been living with humans since thousands of
years and have been an important part in the agricultural revolution of humanity
before which it was considered that sparrows destroy grains and crops but
later it was discovered that sparrows used to eat pests and insects which were
harming the crops and therefore it was proofed that Sparrows are very needed to
control the pest population in agricultural fields.
 |
| Sparrow Chick Image Source- Google | Image by - pixnio |
But unfortunately in today’s busy world , people have forgotten the
importance and essence of being connected to nature and if not zero but still
very minimalistic efforts have been taken to maintain the ecological balance in
urban cities which have also not turned out very well.
The major factor of the
decline of the sparrows in the cities is habitat loss for which human greed and actions are the basic cause of
it. More and more urbanization, and globalization have changed the mindsets of
people who are more comfortable with luxury apartment living and high rise
buildings which have completely destroyed nesting areas of the sparrows.
The declining green
belts in cities have been even more
destroyed in the construction of infrastructural buildings and offices. Even small gardens and trees in
the localities which were nesting spots for the sparrows are hardly found
especially in big urban cities. Earlier people used to have houses where there
were hiding spots and open spaces for Sparrows but now apartment living is more
common these days which is making the situation even worse.
 |
Sparrow
Image Source- Google |
Image by -pxhere
|
Not only the infrastructure but also the increasing establishment of Telecomm towers even in the remote areas outside the cities is another major factor which is causing the killing of these sparrows as these towers emit Electromagnetic radiations which obstruct the navigating capabilities of sparrows to search for food and water and hence die due to starvation. Also because of the lack of navigation these lost their way back to the nesting sites which causes the killing of both the sparrows and their offsprings as well.
Our unindented actions have destroyed the sparrows but there
is still hope left for the species. Sparrows are still present in the outskirts of
the cities and villages from where these can still be reintroduced to the urban
living through human efforts and conservation practices.
These sparrows
although left in very small numbers are still not extinct and their numbers can
be replenished. Various awareness programs are being launched and many NGOs are working
in this regard to save the sparrows from extinction. We as responsible people
of the society can also take part in this beautiful cause through some very
basic efforts such as-
Balcony
Gardens
In this arrangement of apartment living in urban cities we
can build small gardens in balconies which will not only create nesting and a thriving environment for sparrows but also maintain green zones and the eco-friendly environment in our concrete jungle.
 |
| Image Source- Google | Image by - piqselsh |
Water bowls
We can just keep a
water-filled bowl or vessel in the balconies or outside our houses which would
assist in providing water for the birds in hot summers.
Bird feeders
We can Provide bird feeders or food and hang them in areas
with trees or even in our balconies for feeding of all sorts of birds without which
it is very difficult for the birds to find food in the urban arrangement.
 |
| Bird Feeder Image Source- Google | Image by - publicdomainpictures |
Small birdhouse
These can be wooden or simple clay pots which can serve to
be an effective birdhouse or nesting ground and can be set up in balconies and
parks as well.
 |
| Birdhouse Image Source- Google | Image by -pxfuel |
Planting trees
There can be nothing better than planting trees in nearby
areas or your localities as trees and vegetation is very much needed for
habitat of the sparrows and this would also enhance overall urban ecosystem balance.
Save the Animals| Sparrow| Save the Species| Protect the Animals