Sparrows refuse to come home!

Though the World House Sparrow Day was celebrated yesterday, hardly any birds have returned to the city despite some measures taken to increase the dwindling numbers

Though the World House Sparrow Day was celebrated yesterday, hardly any birds have returned to the city despite some measures taken to increase the dwindling numbers

While the world celebrated World House Sparrow Day yesterday, ornithologists and activists in the city lament that despite efforts to bring the birds back into the city, hardly any have returned.u00a0 Only certain pockets of North Bangalore like Yeshwantpur, Hebbal and Yelahanka have seen sparrows making a comeback.


Waning: Birds like copper-smith barbets, small green barbets, bulbuls,
red-whiskered bulbuls and tailor birdsu00a0 too are in decline. File pic

However, to make matters worse, other species of birds have followed suit leaving many to wonder if the birds would ever return to the city. M B Krishna, a noted ornithologist, said, "Sub zone birds are beginning to disappear as well.

Change in their habitat but to rampant construction work is affecting their population in the city." Birds like copper-smith barbets, small green barbets, bulbuls, red-whiskered bulbuls and tailor birds are among the canopy birds that are in decline. Speaking to MiD DAY, Mohammed Dilawar of Nature Forever Organisation, a group that introduced nest boxes in the city to bring sparrows back, said, "Apart from sparrows,u00a0 other species too are on the verge of extinction. Every possible measure should be adopted to ensure their survival."
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Unlike European nations that have a monitoring system to research bird activity, there is no such system in place in India. Krishna said, "If there is a state regulated system, our government would not be so ignorant or dependent on researchers to collect data." When contacted, B K Singh, principal chief conservator of wildlife refused to comment.