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The House Sparrow Is Disappearing from Many of Our Cities and Towns

The House Sparrow Is Disappearing from Many of Our Cities and Towns

AKHILESH KUMAR, AMITA KANAUJIA, SONIKA KUSHWAHA AND ADESH KUMAR TORY S

OVER C

The is disappearing from many of our cities and towns. We can resurrect their numbers by simple steps like providing alternative nesting sites for these little chirping .

among the fi rst to develop a close surveys conducted by ornithologists and association with humans. This led it to researchers suggest that the dramatic HE gentle chirruping of the small being given the name domesticus. decline in population of the sparrow is an Tis slowly vanishing. As the House The House sparrow is also commonly unfortunate reality. sparrow loses its living space to other known as Gauriya. Scientists and researchers aggressive birds and also to humans, it is Unfortunately, the has been suggest several causes responsible disappearing in large parts of the world. declining since the early 1980s in several for the diminishing population like In the last few years the bird has gone parts of the world. There has also been unavailability of nesting space, decrease completely missing from most urban noticeable decline in the number of in food availability, changes in human neighbourhoods. House sparrows in several parts of lifestyle, pollution, electromagnetic As humans settled down to particularly across , , radiation from mobile phone towers agriculture and set up permanent Hyderabad, , Haryana, West (obsolete theory now) and diseases. settlements, the House sparrow was Bengal, and other cities. Several However, the foremost reason seems to

House sparrow is a symbiotic bird species closely associated with humans

SCIENCE REPORTER, JUNE 2015 14 COVER STORY HOUSE SPARROWS OF THE WORLD • • • • House sparrow • • Plain-backed sparrow Male House Sparrow Female House Sparrow • • Lago sparrow We must succeed in bringing back the House sparrows in our • lives, so that the future generation can also enjoy the pleasure • Kenya sparrow of watching these small and chirping little birds in their homes. • Shelley’s sparrow • sparrow be declining nesting sites in urban and The sparrow generally relies on • suburban regions. food (), and plant foods • Northern Grey-headed sparrow Recently, however, there has been (, grains, nuts and fruits). It is an elevated interest in avifauna and its primarily a -eater and sometimes • Swainson’s sparrow conservation. Therefore, strategies and supplements its diet with insects. In • sparrow efforts for their conservation are being rural areas sparrows feed on the seeds of • implemented throughout the country. cultivated grain crops such as , , • Golden sparrow Being a cavity bird, installation of nest , corn, and maize. • Southern Grey-headed sparrow boxes may be an effective attempt to But the House sparrow is also • increase the vanishing population of the helpful in eradicating harmful insects. It • House sparrow. feeds its chicks on the larvae of the alfalfa • and cut-worms, both of which are • Parrot-billed sparrow House Sparrows destructive to alfalfa crops. They also prey on , mosquitoes and • The Gouraiya or the House sparrow is a larvae of several harmful insects. little, stocky song bird with thick bill, short populations in rural areas have declined leg, measuring about 14-16 cm, weight 26- Dust bathing is a very signifi cant by 47% since the mid 1970s, whereas 32 gram and having a wing span of 19-25 behavior of the House sparrow. It takes those in urban and suburban areas have cm. The sexes are dimorphic, that is, the dust baths even when water is available. declined by about 60%. High reduction males and females look different. House sparrows prefer very fi ne dust of sparrow population in London and will fl ap up a storm when they fi nd The male is warm brown above, with (60%), Glasgow (99%) and Hamburg a patch of it. By digging a hole with their a grey crown and nape. It has grey cheeks (77%) has led to its inclusion on the UK feet, they push their bellies into the dust. and grey under parts with black round Conservation Red List. The main reason for dust bathing may eyes. The female is somewhat featherless In Europe, trends since 1980 show be for making the skin smooth and to with a grey brown crown, a pale, buff that populations have undergone a remove parasites. The dust also supercilium, and an unmarked throat and moderate decline, based on provisional absorbs excess oil that is then removed as breast. Juveniles are similar to the adult data for 21 countries from the Pan- the dust is preened away. female. European Common Bird Monitoring House sparrows have a life span of 3 Scheme (Bird Life International, 2011). to 13 years. They prefer thatched houses, Global Decline In Germany, it is classifi ed as near bungalows and concrete structures to During recent decades, there has been threatened due to the large scale local build their nests. In suitable areas, they a marked global decline of the House declines. However, Bird Life International often form loose colonies, typically of 10- sparrow populations especially in the (2011) listed House sparrow as a Least 20 pairs. United Kingdom and in several western Concern species as it has an extremely European countries. In England, the large range and population size.

House sparrows feeding on insects and House sparrows taking dust bath (left) and water bath (right) leftover household food

15 SCIENCE REPORTER, JUNE 2015 COVER STORY HOUSE SPARROWS OF INDIA Name Description Photo Distribution Abundance Code

Passer hispaniolensis 16 cm, a chestnut and black Erratic winter visitor to plains of Uncommon (Spanish sparrow) sparrow with a stout bill. Sexes are Northwest India mainly east to dimorphic. Haryana and south to . Vagrant in Uttar Pradesh.

Passer pyrrhonotus 12 cm, slim, brown and grey Uncommon (Sind sparrow) sparrow with neat, rectangular Local breeding resident. black bib. Sexes are dimorphic. Restricted to areas of Punjab and Haryana.

Passer rutilans 15 cm, a bright chestnut sparrow Locally common breeding Fairly common (Russet sparrow) with usually yellowish-buff resident in northern mountains underparts. Sexes are dimorphic. from north to east .

Passer montanus 14 cm, a brown and buff sparrow Fairly common Locally common breeding (Eurasian Tree sparrow) with a rounded, chest-nut crown. Sexes alike. resident in Uttaranchal.

15 cm, brown and grey sparrow Common breeding resident Passer domesticus Common with stout bill. Sexes are throughout plains and foothills. (House sparrow) dimorphic. Rare in parts of the Northwest and the Northeast.

Scenario in India Mumbai, and Hyderabad. In parts of lifestyles of humans, unavailability of nesting sites, and threat from predators. According to an ornithological survey Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), for conducted by the Indian Council of instance, where volunteers had noticed The breeding season starts in March Agricultural Research (ICAR), the small fl ocks of six to eight sparrows till and runs through to August. In some sparrow population in Andhra Pradesh 1998, they had disappeared without a cases chicks have been reported in the alone has dropped by 80% and in other trace by 2003. In Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) month of September also. House sparrows states like Kerala, and Rajasthan it recent surveys reveal the complete are generally regarded as monogamous has fallen by 20%, while the turn down in absence of House sparrows in several although extra pair paternity can vary coastal areas was as sharp as 70% to 80%. sites since 2013. from population to population. In recent years, ornithologists Natural nesting sites of House have observed sharp decline in House Threats to House Sparrows sparrows include spaces available within sparrow populations across India in Among the many threats counted as man-made buildings. They nest in any Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, reasons for global decline in House space be it a ceiling fan holder, tube-light Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Bangalore, sparrow populations are changing holders, crevices of houses, blocked/ unused pipe holes, thatches or electricity The bushy plants are always used for roosting by House meters. But House sparrows never use sparrow usually in large fl ocks shrubs or trees for nesting. Bushy plants are always used for roosting by House sparrow usually in large fl ocks. The nest is constructed by using different materials like straw, twigs, paper, leaves, grasses, fabric, etc., making an altogether untidy structure. It is lined with fi ne hair, and . But SCIENCESSCISCCICIENEENCNNCCEER RREPORTER,EPOEEPPOPORRTERTTETERR,, JUNEJUJUNJUNUNE 20120220150 5 161 COVER STORY

Nests in roof thatch The breeding season of House sparrows starts in March now there is competition for nesting sites among the doves, Rock chats, bulbuls and House sparrows. Their chicks are also attacked by predators such as crows, shikra, and black kites in cases where the nests are exposed. Some chicks even die after falling from the nests. Sparrow nests in thatch are often destroyed by . Nest in electricity meter Nest in street light With changing lifestyles the availability of nesting sites is reducing for these little chirping birds. Ventilators, which used to be there in all the houses about 12-15 years back, are going out of fashion. The increasing inclination towards comfort is leading to the use of ACs in almost every house, offi ce and even schools. When ACs are used the doors and windows are to be closed, thus Nest in fan holder Nest in tubelight holder forbidding the entry of House sparrows. Modern designs and house plans do not leave any crevices or space even outside the buildings that can be used for nesting by the sparrows. Individual and housing societies also use several methods to keep away the birds such as spikes, nets and other bird pest management techniques. With modernization, humans have forgotten to live in harmony with other living creatures that were once closely associated with them. Nest in wall crevices

The artifi cial nest boxes are being Wooden nest boxes as per Artifi cial Nest Boxes designed and constructed by various specifi c measurements In recent years, artifi cial nest boxes have innovative means. been promoted in houses and gardens to the boxes to keep them provide a safe and secure place for the Wooden nest boxes: The wooden airy and dry. At the House sparrows to build their nest and boxes are constructed using water-proof bottom, a drainage hole lay . Artifi cial nest boxes are fast plywood with scientifi c measurements. helps in removing and becoming a familiar sight in many houses Other material such as saw dust ply or cleaning the broken and gardens. These boxes have proved cardboards can also be used. materials from the nest. extremely valuable for the house sparrows Normally, the height of the box is 20 No painting is because they provide alternative nesting cm and width 16 cm. An entrance hole of done except the top of site for them. It is also a great pleasure for 3.2 cm is kept to assure nesting of only the boxes to give them bird lovers to watch this little active bird House sparrows. The hole of the entrance a natural look. The roof of the is utilising the artifi cial nest boxes to raise is at a height of 9.2 cm from the base of painted with green colour to protect from its young ones safely and successfully. the box. Ventilation slits are also made in water and dew. There can be provision for 17 SCIENCE REPORTER, JUNE 2015 COVER STORY

Competition for nesting space with other birds; Laughing dove (left) and Red-vented bulbul (right) House sparrow in a crevice in a building

A chick falls from a nest • The boxes should be fi xed at an (extreme left) average height of 6-24 feet. Nest in thatch • The nest boxes should be fi xed under destroyed by (left) shaded portion of the house to prevent direct rainfall, dew and sunlight. • Ensure the box does not move too much in windy and stormy weather. The boxes should be fi xed such that they are supported by the wall. This reduces Chicks in wall crevice the free movement of the nest box when The site cemented by approached by the nesting birds. the owner (left) • The nest boxes should never be Nesting places are installed on trees as they are always often blocked by associated with humans and construct owners of houses nests in man-made buildings. during renovation Conservation Strategies the House sparrows to sit by providing a purpose. The entrance hole of the earthen House sparrows are opportunists and are platform to the nest box. pot measures 8.5 cm. The earthen pots able to live wherever there are suitable are used as it is without applying any nesting sites, roosting sites and enough Shoe box as sparrow nests: Unused paint. Earthen pots as nest boxes are also food availability. The recent decline of shoe boxes that people generally throw available commercially. the House sparrow (Passer domesticus) away can also be used for the sparrow in India is widely as well as timely nest. Shoe boxes having length of 27 Installing Nest Boxes recognized. Therefore, strategies and cm, width 14.5 cm and height 9 cm have • Location of nest boxes should be safe efforts for their conservation are being been used on experimental basis by the so that they cannot be approached by implemented throughout the country to Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation predators. put a halt to the dwindling population Lab, University of Lucknow, Lucknow. • The assembling and the nailing before urbanisation leads them to the The size of the entrance hole should should be done systematically to provide category of the Critically Endangered. be the same as in the wooden nest box i.e. strength. In India, the Nature Forever Society 3.2 cm, to avoid nest occupancy by other (NFS), started by Mr Mohammed Dilawar, birds. The shoe boxes are wrapped in • Installation should be done with has been working for the conservation brown colour waterproof sealing tape to proper drilling and heavy nail with of House sparrows and other common give it a natural look as well as to increase holder. fl ora and fauna since 2006. It has the durability of the boxes. • Nest box should be tied up with metallic wires so that it does not get spearheaded programmes and projects that are making a visible difference to Earthen pot as nest boxes: Small removed from its fi xed place due to small sparrow populations in cities. Some of the earthen pots with diameter of 13 cm and jerks, ensuring safety from attack of initiatives started by the Nature Forever depth of 13 cm can also be used for the predators. Society are “Common Bird Monitoring of Shoe box as nest box (below) and small earthen pot as nest box India”, “World Sparrow Day”, “Project Save Our Sparrows”, “Nature Forever Society Sparrow Awards” and “Adopt a Feeder and Nest Program”, among others. The Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation Lab in the Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow together with the Uttar Pradesh State Biodiversity Board has also embarked upon sparrow conservation efforts through SCIENCE REPORTER, JUNE 2015 18 COVER STORY Artifi cial nest box installation Don’t let them fall

“HELP SPARROWS LIVE WHERE YOU LIVE”

House sparrow nest boxes presented as Memento during to appreciate the beauty of biodiversity various awareness events (above which we take so much for granted. The left) and distributed to the local World Sparrow Day attempts to bring public free of cost (above right) sparrow lovers and nature supporters on a common platform, and start a conservation movement to save the awareness by distributing common fl ora and fauna of the world. fl yers, pamphlets, posters and calendars on sparrows among Wherever possible people should the local people. Artifi cial Nest try to provide an alternative nesting site boxes are being promoted by for the House sparrows. In this manner, presenting them as Mementos perhaps, we may succeed in bringing to dignitaries in various back the House sparrows in our lives, so awareness programmes. that the future generation can also enjoy They are also provided being the pleasure of watching these small and provided to the local people chirping little birds in their homes. free of cost. On 15 August 2012, the Mr Akhilesh Kumar is Research Scholar in the then Chief Minister of Delhi Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Ms Sheila Dikshit declared working on House Sparrows in Uttar Pradesh. sparrow as the “State Bird of He is also working as JRF in a project on House Delhi”. This declaration was Sparrows. Address: Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation Lab, Department of Zoology, part of “Rise for the Sparrows” House sparrows loving the new alternative University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226007, Uttar – India’s largest conservation programme abodes Pradesh; Email: [email protected] for sparrows. On 9 January 2013, Bihar Dr. Amita Kanaujia is Associate Professor programmes such as Adopt a Feeder Chief Minister Mr Nitish Kumar also ([email protected]) in the Department of and Nest Box, Sparrow Census, and announced the sparrow as the State Bird Zoology, University of Lucknow. She is working in awareness programmes and workshops of Bihar. Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation. in Uttar Pradesh. Effort is made to involve The Nature Forever Society Dr. Sonika Kushwaha is JRF (sonika.jhs@gmail. students through various events during celebrated the fi rst World Sparrow Day in com) in the Department of Zoology, University of Wildlife Week and World Sparrow Day. India on 20th March 2009. The idea was Lucknow, working in a Project on House Sparrows Besides various competitions for to convey the message of conservation of funded by U.P. State Biodiversity Board. students, the volunteers are also asked to the House sparrow and other common Mr. Adesh Kumar is Research Scholar in the spot sparrows in their vicinity and create birds and also mark a day of celebration Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow. 19 SCIENCE REPORTER, JUNE 2015

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