Jaipur— The chirping of sparrows are not heard often anymore. Once, their calls used to wake up people every morning, but sparrows are rapidly declining in numbers specially in urban areas.

Though, these birds are seen in comparatively larger numbers in Bharatpur Keowla National bird sanctuary and the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve of Sawai Madhopur and Sariska of Alwar. Experts claim, modernisation is laying drastic effects on the avian life effecting the growth of Sparrows. If human intervention continues uninterruptedly, their numbers would reduce rapidly in villages too.

Satyaprakash Mehra, an ornithologist, spoke at length with The Mooknayak on sparrows and their declining population.

Dr. Mehra says some species of birds maintain distance from people while some birds like sparrows survive in human proximity. In the race of modernization, the humans have destroyed the habitable circumstances and threatened the birds population. When the habitable milieu ended the population growth was stopped. Or to be precise, the protector turned into the destroyer.

The second reason for the declining number of sparrows is the poisonous feed and pesticides laced grains, human beings serve them. Sparrows die prematurely of infected feed.

Global events have also been attributed as the third major reason for the decline in sparrow population. The increasing number of mobile towers in urban areas is also affecting their population adversely. Radiation from wireless communication systems proves fatal to their lives also affecting their breeding system. On the question of the scientific view of birds being affected by the radiation of mobile towers, he said, "There has been a lot of research on this in Europe. The Royal Society for Protection of Birds has also done research on it and majority of the studies show a negative impact on the avian population. However, in India the effects have not been so adverse."

Sparrow numbers on gradual increase

There are media reports of the extinction of sparrows from all over the world. Meanwhile, Dr. Satyaprakash Mehra has good news for bird lovers. Dr. Mehra told The Mooknayak that, "It may occur to you as a new thing that the number of sparrows is increasing once again. It is now increasing in India. Sparrows that were almost going towards extinction, have started showing adaptability again. The increase in population is being seen. We have to take action immediately. We have to prepare a congenial atmosphere for their survival. If this time it is not controlled then it will be finished for ever." Dr. Mehra says, "The birds have never been counted in Rajasthan. We were doing a study by building a Shakuntalam habitat in Bharatpur's Kevaladev bird sanctuary. There were about 300 sparrows in it. We have to sensitize the farmers. Together with the farmers, sparrows can be protected."

Tampering with nature hazardous

Dr. Satyaprakash has worked for a long time for the conservation of sparrows in Bharatpur. He is aggrieved by the constructions in the Keowla Deo sanctuary as he believes the natural habitat is being destroyed. "You are going to visit a natural site, but your entry is through a concrete door. We opposed it. We have said that it is wrong to take the natural site towards concretization. The number of mobile towers towards Keoledeo is constantly increasing. Now 5G is starting and it is going to be even more dangerous. The concretization of the dwellings is also negative" Mehra asserts.

Dr. Mehra says that they[sparrows] are still seen in villages around Bharatpur, but the chemical-rich food they are being fed here is affecting them. Unfortunately, pesticide use has increased in the agricultural fields around the sanctuary. Also, ever since the farmer left the cultivation of pulses and started sowing the mustard crop, there has been a shortage of food for the birds. Pulses that fell naturally in the fields were their main food. We have changed the crop pattern. Mustard grows abundantly at low cost. Bharatpur is the hub of mustard production but mustard is not the food of sparrows.

We have seen in Rajasthan that sparrows prefer to build their nest inside homes at lower height, smaller trees and bushes. Some specific trees and plants like acacia, lemon, guava, pomegranate, mehndi, bamboo and kaner, etc. They are considered as the first choice for building a house. The number of these trees is constantly decreasing. When sparrows make nests in other places predators like cats, crows, eagles and hawks prey them. Due to climate change in Rajasthan, the number of insects has disappeared and they are considered to be the most favorite food of sparrows," Dr. Mehra explained.

Human rapacity a major reason for decline

Devendra Mistry, a wild life enthusiast from Udaipur, told The Mooknayak that the n'umber of sparrows in urban areas is decreasing at a faster rate than in villages. Although, villages are also being transformed into towns in the name of development. New houses with modern amenities are being built. In this era of fashion, the windows and doors of the houses are closed. The skylights are closed with iron nets). When the structure of the houses changed, the sparrow also left the home or is wriggling with thirst and hunger to death.

Devendra says, "We have destroyed even the trees and weeds growing in the nooks and corners. Everything has been cemented. The grasses and herbs growing around the houses with many types of seeds have disappeared. Butterflies and moths are also being destroyed. Even the insects and moths that come in handy as food for the sparrows have become difficult to find. Even the trees and plants in the open courtyard (the area in front of the house) are not visible. We have forgotten the bird that lives with humans. We have shown intolerance. The birds have stopped nesting in the thorny trees, small plants, henna bushes where these birds feels safe. They are no longer a safe place for sparrows. So how will this creature survive."