Rise in House Sparrows noticed in Delhi slums

NEW DELHI: The population of House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) is partially increasing in the city according to a survey by ecologists who also found that the birds’ numbers have increased in some pockets of slums of Delhi as against the planned areas.

The population of sparrows, the Delhi state bird, had been on the decline over the past few years due to a variety of factors, has been noted to have increased especially in slums.

The study, conducted before the World Sparrow Day, also stated that “their movement has increased, especially in the  slum areas. We hardly see sparrows now-a-days in the planned areas because they have lost their natural habitat for nesting”, said ecologist T.K. Roy.

“Non-availability of food is another reason. Use of pesticides in farmlands, electro-magnetic radiation from mobile towers, noise and air pollution have also led to the decline,” he said.

The recently introduced triangular wooden nest boxes  also known as the nesting boxes have proved House Sparrows.

He added that the sparrows have adopted new sites for nesting. “As per the study, house sparrow population has partially increased in some pockets of slum areas of the capital because of adoption of alternative nesting sites —shop shutter tops, inverted lamp sheds, ventilators, modern flyover wall holes and used hard paper board open boxes on the roof rooftops,” he said.

Mr Roy said that the recently introduced triangular wooden nest boxes have proved unsuccessful for nesting.

“Three years ago, the Uttar Pradesh government publicised and distributed more than one lakh triangular wooden nest boxes throughout the state with the aim of conservation of House Sparrows.

Several non-government organisations and trusts have taken undue advantage of the government’s largesse.

The boxes were sold at `400 to `500 per box; in reality the boses cost  `40 to `50. These were, however, found to be unsuccessful for nesting,” Mr Roy said.

He added that instead of using any kind of hard paper board, putting open boxes on the ceiling, rooftop or hanging them somewhere in the house would have been successful for nesting of the House Sparrows.