sparrow is necessary for environmental balance

The little cute sparrow, which adapted itself to the circumstances, was seen flying in flocks everywhere until two decades ago. But now it has come under the category of an endangered and rare bird. Apart from India, their number has remained very less in many parts of Europe. The fast disappearing sparrow has been classified as a ‘rare species’ in the Netherlands. In some other countries like Germany, Britain, Italy, France, Czech Republic etc. the number of sparrows is also decreasing rapidly. Their population has decreased to dangerous levels in western countries. A total of 26 species of sparrows are found worldwide, out of which five are found in India, but now their existence is under threat. Britain’s ‘Royal Society of Protection of Birds’ has put the sparrow in the ‘Red List’ on the basis of many studies in other parts of the world including India. Those animals or birds are put in the ‘Red List’, which are in danger of extinction. A total of six species of sparrows are found in the Indian subcontinent: House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Dead Sea or Afghan Scrub Sparrow, Tree Sparrow or Eurasian Sparrow, Sindh Sparrow and Russet or Cinnamon Sparrow. According to the book ‘Pollution Free Breath’, the sparrow population in India has decreased by around 60 per cent. According to a survey by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the number of sparrows has decreased by about 80 percent in Andhra Pradesh and by 20 percent in states like Kerala, Gujarat, Rajasthan. Apart from this, their number is estimated to decrease by 70 to 80 percent in the coastal areas. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests also believes that there is a continuous decrease in the number of house sparrows across the country.

Environmentalists say that if concerted efforts are not made in time for the protection of the sparrow, then it is possible that the small sparrow will remain a creature of history and our future generations will be able to see it only in Google or books. In fact, the kind of messing we are doing with the environment is the result that we have polluted all these elements of earth, water, air in such a way that its side effects are now affecting all the living beings and animals on the earth apart from humans. And the animals and birds are suffering. In view of the rapidly decreasing number of sparrows, ‘World Sparrow Day’ is celebrated every year on March 20 from the year 2010 with the aim of bringing awareness to the conservation of common birds living in the urban environment apart from sparrows. In view of the rapidly decreasing number of Gauraiya, it was declared as the state bird by the Delhi government in the year 2012, it is also the state bird of Bihar. Our lifestyle has changed a lot in the last two-and-a-half decades. Due to our vested interests, we have destroyed the forests, have created a threat to the existence of many species of animals and birds, which play an important role in maintaining the balance cycle of nature, by killing them, hunting them or destroying their habitats. There was a time, when listening to the sparrow’s chirping as soon as we opened our eyes in the morning, our heart and mind used to get a strange relief, but now this chirping has disappeared somewhere.

I have mentioned in detail about Gauraiya in my book pollution-free breaths published on environmental protection that lack of proper places for nests due to lack of food and water, construction of pucca houses, rapid cutting of trees and plants, our changing lifestyle, Side effects of mobile radiation, continuous increase in temperature, etc. are some of the main reasons, which are causing the extinction of sparrows. The increasing use of pesticides in the fields is also affecting their existence very badly. According to environmentalists, the sparrow eats cocoon, millet, paddy, cooked rice grains, etc. But due to modern urbanization, its natural food sources are ending, their habitats are being destroyed. Trees and plants are being cut down at a rapid pace and there is no space left for sparrows to build nests in the new-age houses. Leave the talk of cities, now the way of building houses has also changed in rural areas, due to which the nesting place for Gauraiya has ended. Now, whether it is a city or a village, there are thousands of big towers for mobile phones everywhere. The radiation emanating from these towers is the biggest responsible reason for the ever-decreasing number of sparrows. In fact, the electromagnetic rays emanating from these towers excite this small bird, due to which its fertility is greatly reduced and it is also a victim of disorientation. This has directly affected their existence in a big way. According to environmentalists, sparrows mostly live on trees with small clumps, but in the blind race of development, trees are being destroyed rapidly, due to which the houses of sparrows and other birds have also been ruined. It has been seen many times that people destroy the sparrow’s nest in their homes before settling down. Ornithologists say that in order to bring sparrows back, people should provide some places in their homes where they can easily make nests and their eggs and children can be safe from attacking birds in these home made nests. For nature balance and environmental protection, the biggest demand of the time today is that we should be helpful for the birds in making the environment friendly to them, otherwise the day is not far when many more birds including sparrows, vultures and ‘dodo’ birds of Mauritius Will be completely extinct like. However, today there is a dire need to create awareness among the people on a large scale for the protection of sparrows, which have been our partners in maintaining the balance of nature.

• Yogesh Kumar Goyal