Need to build artificial nests for sparrows stressed

Rajamahendravaram: Divisional Forest Officer (wildlife) Anantha Shankar underlined the need to bring awareness among the people on Sparrows which helps a lot to the people in several ways.

Speaking at a meeting held in connection with International Sparrow Day at Nagara Vanam here on Tuesday, he said Sparrows are disappearing day-by-day and their number is declining, because of increase in concrete structures, rampant usage of pesticides, cell towers and ceiling fans.

Moreover, increasing pollution is also another reason for disappearance of sparrows. Now, sparrows are not seen even in rural areas. Because of the changes in the living styles of people in society, there is no place for sparrows to live and there is a need to build artificial nests for them.

Wildlife wing is trying to protect sparrows and also contemplating to conduct awareness programmes in this regard. Sparrows are very close to the people, they sail with the people whose presence give them pleasure. Bird Watching Society (BWS) member K Mrutyanjaya Rao has said that it is the duty of everyone to protect sparrows and their disappearance poses problem to environment.

In India they are called as house sparrows and in China they are called as tree sparrows. Many of our sparrows migrated to USA, New Zealand, Australia and other countries through ships.

In China, the government killed lakhs of sparrows alleging that they are spoiling paddy crop, as they eat the insects which damage crops. Later the yield was drastically declined due to lack of sparrows which used to eat insects. Sparrows live with human beings and build nests in houses. He appealed to the people to protect sparrows. Forest officer Sai, Research Assistant Balaji and others were present.