SAVE THE SPARROWS
Save Sparrows: They Are The Future
The number of sparrows is dwindling. And that too very fast. Though the issue may not strike us in one go, the decline in the number of sparrows is really a matter of concern. But one thing that is for sure is that as fellow citizens we can do out bit to save this bird. For Mumbai, our own city, the issue is more important.
"House sparrows (Passer domesticus) are the indicator of the environment and they are facing a serious threat. We need to generate funds for extensive research," says Dilawar Mohammed, adding that he would be visiting several places across the country to generate more data on sparrows and their decline.
Dilawar has been associated with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and have recently launched a website – www.natureforever.org – to save sparrows.
He said that the situation is "serious" as house sparrows are indicators of the environment and the decline shows that. Many reasons have been attributed to the decline of sparrows – like increasing use of pesticides, lack of insect food, lack of nesting places and electro-magnetic waves from towers.
Dilawar has also posted details on net ( http://dilawarmohammed.googlepages.com) - where many interesting facts about sparrows could be accessed.
Dilawar, who is a Project Manager for IBA-IUCN, pointed out: "When we were young we use to see women from the houses use to clean the grains, wheat rice and so on. At the same time, when they were sitting, sparrows use to come for the leftovers. But today we get everything packed – from retail shops and malls." He said that that the House Sparrows are declining gives signal that "there is something wrong in the environment".
"House Sparrows may not be critically endangered now, but in future it may happen. What happened to the vultures. In just 10 years they are facing extinction," Dilawar points out.
However, there is some good news. “The centre has sanctioned a three-year project to investigate the causes leading to the decline of the house sparrow in urban areas of India,” an excited Dilawar said.
Among the TIME's Heroes of Environment-2008, the Nashik-based naturalist pointed out that the decline in the house sparrow population in the United Kingdom and Western Europe has been widely recognized and taken very seriously.
The common house sparrows are nature’s bio-indicators and enjoy a
historical relationship with humans and have followed his colonization of
earth.
Nest boxes and feeders
Dilawar has now has started making next boxes and feeders in his hometown and is supplying to the purchasers on a no profit-no loss basis. "It is a simple device," he said, and pointed out that there is an urgent need for funds for undertaking study of sparrows, whom he refers to as "friends of the mankind".
Talking about nestboxes, he said, bird species can benefit greatly from nest boxes. Of the smaller species, it is normally birds that nest in holes or crevices that will use nest boxes to breed in. The most common being the house sparrow .
However other smaller birds will happily use an open fronted nest box to breed in. These include, robin, maynas, magpie robin. Some of these are quite common garden birds and providing they are placed correctly, nest boxes can provide a wonderful opportunity to witness first hand the beauty of nature.
There are two main types of nest boxes, the conventional nest box made from straight planks of timber in a box shape with a circular entrance hole and the natural nest box made from a hollowed out tree trunk. The difference being that the natural nest box looks very professional and natural although it is harder to make. Some birds like the house martin and swallow nest in an artificial cup shaped nest fixed under the eaves.
Nest boxes should only be placed where they cannot be accessed by predators especially cats. Cats seem to hone in on the frequent activity around the nest box at breeding times especially as the chicks get older when their calls become audible. A box which can be readily viewed from the house will therefore provide you pleasure and the birds increased safety.
Some birds like the house sparrows can't resist using nest boxes. Whether a bird will choose a nest box will of course depend on the species, that the size and siting of the box is correct, that it is in a safe location and there is an adequate source of food and water in the garden.
Birds become very sensitive during the breeding season and you should resist any curiosity to look in the box at the chicks, since disturbance may cause the adult birds to abandon the nest. This is a good reason to build your nest box so you can't look inside.
After fledging the nest box should be thoroughly cleaned out since it will be teeming with tiny parasites - boiling water will normally do the trick.
Another reason to put up a nest box is that after breeding takes place, they are often used during the night as a place of shelter and warmth.
Ban catapults
With the decline in several species of birds, conservationists and bird lovers have called for a ban on catapults - and Dilawar, who is a leading researcher on house sparrows, has decided to launch a nationwide campaign.
"We all love birds and mother nature but now as we all know it is under attack from all quarters. For the past one year I have trying to convince people to work on a ban on the use of catapults. I have surveyed the wholesale markets of Mumbai where hundreds of thousands of catapults and the rubber pipe used in it is sold," Dilawar said.
Give them water
With the population of house sparrows declining for multiple reasons, India’s leading expert on sparrows Dilawar requested people to provide water to them in a little way.
Dilawar has launched a website – www.natureforever.org – and has also recently had launched an SMS campaign requesting people to help the birds in general and sparrows in particular. He requested people to provide water to them by keeping it in containers in windows and terraces.
Dilawar’s simple SMS reads – “many birds die in summer without water, try 2 save them, please put water pots 4 thirsty birds in balcony n windows and gardens” .
People have started doing it. The response has been tremendous….. with a little but we could save so many birds.
Did you know ?
* The most widespread commonly seen wild bird in the world is probably the house sparrow (Passer domesticus), which has been transported all over the world by European settlers and can now be found on 2/3 of the land masses of the world including New Zealand, Australia, North America, India and Europe.
* House sparrows reportedly lived and bred in the Frickley Colliery Yorkshire, England coalmine shaft 640 m (2100 feet) below ground level, where two, and later three birds were fed by the miners and lived for three years. (In November 1977, a pair nested in the mine and raised three, which did not survive).
* The house sparrow can swim when it needs to for survival. They have even been observed swimming underwater when threatened.
* While the longevity record for a house sparrow is over 13 years, the survival rate of the bird while young is less than 25 per cent. Over 40 per cent of all adult house sparrows die every year.
The number of sparrows is dwindling. And that too very fast. Though the issue may not strike us in one go, the decline in the number of sparrows is really a matter of concern. But one thing that is for sure is that as fellow citizens we can do out bit to save this bird. For Mumbai, our own city, the issue is more important.
"House sparrows (Passer domesticus) are the indicator of the environment and they are facing a serious threat. We need to generate funds for extensive research," says Dilawar Mohammed, adding that he would be visiting several places across the country to generate more data on sparrows and their decline.
Dilawar has been associated with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and have recently launched a website – www.natureforever.org – to save sparrows.
He said that the situation is "serious" as house sparrows are indicators of the environment and the decline shows that. Many reasons have been attributed to the decline of sparrows – like increasing use of pesticides, lack of insect food, lack of nesting places and electro-magnetic waves from towers.
Dilawar has also posted details on net ( http://dilawarmohammed.googlepages.com) - where many interesting facts about sparrows could be accessed.
Dilawar, who is a Project Manager for IBA-IUCN, pointed out: "When we were young we use to see women from the houses use to clean the grains, wheat rice and so on. At the same time, when they were sitting, sparrows use to come for the leftovers. But today we get everything packed – from retail shops and malls." He said that that the House Sparrows are declining gives signal that "there is something wrong in the environment".
"House Sparrows may not be critically endangered now, but in future it may happen. What happened to the vultures. In just 10 years they are facing extinction," Dilawar points out.
However, there is some good news. “The centre has sanctioned a three-year project to investigate the causes leading to the decline of the house sparrow in urban areas of India,” an excited Dilawar said.
Among the TIME's Heroes of Environment-2008, the Nashik-based naturalist pointed out that the decline in the house sparrow population in the United Kingdom and Western Europe has been widely recognized and taken very seriously.
The common house sparrows are nature’s bio-indicators and enjoy a
historical relationship with humans and have followed his colonization of
earth.
Nest boxes and feeders
Dilawar has now has started making next boxes and feeders in his hometown and is supplying to the purchasers on a no profit-no loss basis. "It is a simple device," he said, and pointed out that there is an urgent need for funds for undertaking study of sparrows, whom he refers to as "friends of the mankind".
Talking about nestboxes, he said, bird species can benefit greatly from nest boxes. Of the smaller species, it is normally birds that nest in holes or crevices that will use nest boxes to breed in. The most common being the house sparrow .
However other smaller birds will happily use an open fronted nest box to breed in. These include, robin, maynas, magpie robin. Some of these are quite common garden birds and providing they are placed correctly, nest boxes can provide a wonderful opportunity to witness first hand the beauty of nature.
There are two main types of nest boxes, the conventional nest box made from straight planks of timber in a box shape with a circular entrance hole and the natural nest box made from a hollowed out tree trunk. The difference being that the natural nest box looks very professional and natural although it is harder to make. Some birds like the house martin and swallow nest in an artificial cup shaped nest fixed under the eaves.
Nest boxes should only be placed where they cannot be accessed by predators especially cats. Cats seem to hone in on the frequent activity around the nest box at breeding times especially as the chicks get older when their calls become audible. A box which can be readily viewed from the house will therefore provide you pleasure and the birds increased safety.
Some birds like the house sparrows can't resist using nest boxes. Whether a bird will choose a nest box will of course depend on the species, that the size and siting of the box is correct, that it is in a safe location and there is an adequate source of food and water in the garden.
Birds become very sensitive during the breeding season and you should resist any curiosity to look in the box at the chicks, since disturbance may cause the adult birds to abandon the nest. This is a good reason to build your nest box so you can't look inside.
After fledging the nest box should be thoroughly cleaned out since it will be teeming with tiny parasites - boiling water will normally do the trick.
Another reason to put up a nest box is that after breeding takes place, they are often used during the night as a place of shelter and warmth.
Ban catapults
With the decline in several species of birds, conservationists and bird lovers have called for a ban on catapults - and Dilawar, who is a leading researcher on house sparrows, has decided to launch a nationwide campaign.
"We all love birds and mother nature but now as we all know it is under attack from all quarters. For the past one year I have trying to convince people to work on a ban on the use of catapults. I have surveyed the wholesale markets of Mumbai where hundreds of thousands of catapults and the rubber pipe used in it is sold," Dilawar said.
Give them water
With the population of house sparrows declining for multiple reasons, India’s leading expert on sparrows Dilawar requested people to provide water to them in a little way.
Dilawar has launched a website – www.natureforever.org – and has also recently had launched an SMS campaign requesting people to help the birds in general and sparrows in particular. He requested people to provide water to them by keeping it in containers in windows and terraces.
Dilawar’s simple SMS reads – “many birds die in summer without water, try 2 save them, please put water pots 4 thirsty birds in balcony n windows and gardens” .
People have started doing it. The response has been tremendous….. with a little but we could save so many birds.
Did you know ?
* The most widespread commonly seen wild bird in the world is probably the house sparrow (Passer domesticus), which has been transported all over the world by European settlers and can now be found on 2/3 of the land masses of the world including New Zealand, Australia, North America, India and Europe.
* House sparrows reportedly lived and bred in the Frickley Colliery Yorkshire, England coalmine shaft 640 m (2100 feet) below ground level, where two, and later three birds were fed by the miners and lived for three years. (In November 1977, a pair nested in the mine and raised three, which did not survive).
* The house sparrow can swim when it needs to for survival. They have even been observed swimming underwater when threatened.
* While the longevity record for a house sparrow is over 13 years, the survival rate of the bird while young is less than 25 per cent. Over 40 per cent of all adult house sparrows die every year.
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