THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Of course you’ve seen a house sparrow, but do you really remember the last time you saw one? Once common in populated areas such as markets, the chirpy little house sparrow, a social bird no bigger than your palm, is silently disappearing from our midst. But the city-based organisation Writers’ and Nature Lovers’ Forum is planning to do something about it. On November 11, the forum plans to install small wooden cages at the Palayam market to encourage these once-ubiquitous birds to roost. If successful, the project will be extended to more areas, generally market places. There’s the reason why a market has been selected for the initiative, says C Rahim, journalist and forum convener. ‘’Studies have shown that these birds are drawn by thickly populated areas, especially market places. That’s why it is called ‘Angaadikkuruvi’ in Malayalam,’’ he said. A study by the Bombay National History Society had shown depletion in the house sparrow (Passer domesticus indicus, a sub-species is found in India) population in Mumbai. There were hundreds of these sparrows in the Chalai and Palayam markets up to a decade ago. Now they have disappeared, according to Rahim. ‘’Studies cite three reasons; one, it is said that mobile tower radiation affects the birds; two, the nature of our markets and towns has changed. The birds used to peck around shops where grains were kept in open sacks. Now, everything comes packed; and three, the widespread use of pesticides is killing off the sparrows. They are quite sensitive to changes in their environment,’’ he said. Although the females lay eggs four to five times a year, only four or five chicks survive. Traders at the Palayam market have agreed to the Forum’s venture, he said. ‘’Earlier, shopkeepers used to place pots for the birds to roost, but now nobody is doing it. We plan to place small wooden cages instead,’’ Rahim said.
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