Number of sparrows declining in Bhopal ?

- by Anil Gulati

It was early morning of November a narrow road of Bawadiya kalan, at outskirts of Bhopal an expanding capital city of Madhya Pradesh, mornings used to be very interesting particularly for birder. One did not had to go far away to site birds, they were their next to ones house.

 

One could enjoy chirping call of house sparrow, their playful movement of straws twigged in their tweaks, enjoying them in dust and with grains along with other birds like red vented bulbul and Indian silver bills. But few months later they have gone missing.

 

The small tree, shrubs and mounds of mud which used to be play ground for the little passerine birds has now been replaced with concrete. Thanks to growing urbanization in Bhopal. Road of concrete has replaced the shrubs, and trees. The sound and playful movements of passerine bird are gone and remain in pictures and hearts of people who enjoyed them.

 

May be she may have searched for a new home, but I could not site nothing closer, as we have cellphone tower next and its radiations are ‘said to be killer of this little species’.

 

House Sparrow or Passer domesticus is a bird of the sparrow, family Passeridae, and is found commonly in India and World. It was described by Ornithologist Salim Ali as “hanger-on of man” found ubiquitous, omnivorous which eats grain, insects fruit buds, kitchen scraps etc.

 

Its association with humans, is an old one, chirping notes are well recognized from our childhood days, something which new generation may miss and is found mention in literature, folk songs etc. It is one of commonest birds, though in recent times its population is declining in many cities In India.

 

If one notices change around one neighborhood in last few years, you may have noticed them missing, if not you are lucky one. Though house sparrows are still a dominant species in the rural parts of Madhya Pradesh, which are more agriculture dependent.

 

However, its density is declining in the urban areas of Bhopal, Indore etc, when compared to the other commonly bird species which exists in the urban areas. House sparrow is highly adaptable bird, but rapid urbanization in Bhopal, many parts of the city which used to be fields have been converted into ‘boxes’, concrete boxes of flats and duplexes.

 

New constructions are not as attractive to the sparrow as they provide little opportunities to nest. Loss of green cover of trees, changing architecture of human habitation, increasing use of steel and glass, has deprived the house sparrows of nesting sites. Mobile towers, increasing roads, pavements, missing wells, use of mosquito pesticides, have contributed and added to its decline.

 

One can hardly notice nest of house sparrows on mobile towers. All is not gone, Bhopal thanks to its pending green cover, still has sparrows and our effort should be in direction to see that we make space for the little bird, may be have small garden wherever however possible, and as temperature rise, put a bowel of water and abundant food on rooftops to add space for the little one and enjoy her chirp around ones households.

http://www.indiablooms.com/EnvironmentDetailsPage/2013/environmentDetails300313a.php