Fall of The Sparrow

World Sparrow Day 
20 March  

Incidentally it was a dead yellow throated sparrow that turned Dr.Salim Ali into an ornithologist and conservationist. We have all grown up the vicinity common house sparrow. I remember hoards in my old house chirping, feeding and nesting.   

They were part of the house and us taken for granted the commensal of men could not withstand modernity as it has entered the vicious form that we see today. 

The reduction in numbers is an indicator of serious environmental concern. Since  a long time the reduction in their population has been noted in urban areas which they inhabit the most. This reduction in numbers is directly related to our lifestyle as well our way of farming. We are using number of chemicals which are toxic to birds and humans in long time as well. The toiletries, garden chemicals and pesticides used in farms are contributing to slow death of avian species Worldwide. The chemicals flowing through the outlets are ingested by birds which eventually affects their eggs and hence breeding. 

While the house sparrow lives in towns, cities and villages other species of sparrows prefer different habitats. The house sparrow (passer domesticus) is the most affected inhabiting human habitations. 

The continuing urbanisation is taking its toll due intolerance present generation since the sparrows used to nest in old houses. In modern construction there is no space for this avian and few nesting grounds are available. 

The population reduction is also due to the destruction of trees and forests. Constant large scale urbanisation has lead to reduction in number of trees and groves which the bird prefers. The scrub land another of its habitat too has been affected by rampant colonisation in India.     

Classification of Sparrows 

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Suborder: Passeri

Infraorder: Passerida

Superfamily: Passeroidea

Family: Passeridae