World Sparrow Day: Voices grow louder for sparrow conservation

Ooty: Green activists in the Nilgiris hills appealed for greater community participation for sparrow conservation as the ‘World Sparrow Day’ is to be observed globally on Monday.

With radiation, pollution and eco-toxicological factors playing havoc with the survival of sparrows, whose population is said to be waning, voices are growing for concerted sparrow conservation.

V.Sivadass, managing trustee of the Nilgiris Environment and Socio-Cultural Trust said, “Sparrow is the first connection of the sounds of nature to a child. Its chirps and playfulness help a child get an insight into the wonders of nature. Sparrows need human presence, support and care for their survival.”

“The little food and grains that humans spare is the base for sparrows to live.  While the old tiled-roof houses were automatically the dwelling places of sparrows, now, the change in construction module has deprived the sparrow of their natural nesting sites. People should place sparrow nest boxes
in their homes to attract sparrows,” said Sivadass.

Stating that a community movement, especially triggering interest among children in sparrow conservation was the need of the hour, Mr. S.Jayachandran, joint secretary of the Tamil Nadu Green Movement, said that the good population of sparrows in the Nilgiris, especially in the rural areas, “proves that ecological factors are still conducive for sparrows.”