SPARROW: On the edge of Decline

The great India is very rich from biodiversity point of view. Several varieties of animals, birds and vegetations are surviving in our motherland. Having 28 states and unique species in each state, India tells all about the individual importance of state-bird, animal, flower, and tree. The state Uttarakhand is eminent for his mountain beauty, honest people and rich biodiversity. Many scientists and researchers have been conducting studies in the field of social, technical, economical and environment in Uttarakhand hills. However, a number of part is untouched about their biodiversity, it may be due to the poor accessibility. 

 

There are several creatures surviving in nature, birds are one of them. In these colorful flying creatures, some are tiny, medium and large; these are most beautiful, singer and very good bio-indicators, which indicate changes in nature or surrounding environment. The knowledge about birds in the state Uttarakhand especially in Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand is scanty. Most of the bird species are local residential and some are reported migrant in summer seasons from rest part of the India i.e. creasted cuckoo, flycatcher, lapwing and minivets. As well as the most of high hills birds migrate in winter seasons at Dehradun i.e. Himalayan bulbul, swallows, laughing thrushes and warblers species.

 

As we know that birds play an important role to sustain environment and they help to forest regeneration, pollination and peast control; as well as they also play an important role as a bio indicators, any changes in environment shown by these indicators; now-a-days these are struggling to survive. Many reports published in newspaper and magazines that such creatures have finished like Dodo, Vultures, and many more (House sparrow).

 

The state Uttarakhand is untouched about bird studies or it can be said that few studies have done on birds. Many agencies and NGO’s are working on birds although the records are not well authentic. During my research, I visited several places of Uttarakhand (urban and rural) and found that abundance of House sparrow is critical in urban areas while, in hilly rural areas their richness is still good.

 

It has been observed for last 12 months in Dehradun that the abundance of House sparrow has become critical in Connought place, Clock tower, Paltan bazaar, Rajpur and Ballupur; these observations was based on local information but I think House sparrow’s situation is critical now in Dehradun city. 

 

Several reasons may be behind it, some attributes such as mobile phones’ sound waves, insect food diminished to a great extent in urban areas but still plenty in rural and undeveloped localities. Besides automobile pollution, a lot of lead has released into the atmosphere, which might have had a residual effect on the eggs of sparrows and making them thin shelled.

 

Higher noise pollution might have also caused a disturbance to them. As well as I think in Dehradun, life style is one of the cause of House sparrows’ decline. A lot of building constructions and apartments in the place of old age houses and lost the vegetation cover near around. Sparrow used to nest site near the electric meter, holes and slab of walls etc. But due to construction, we are ruining the assets.

We have lost the vultures, three species from the nature, which played important role to keep environment clean. We will have to take such key steps to preserve the existence of sparrows and the boon of nature.

Here, I have an experimental suggestions to control the sparrow critical position and these experiments are applying not only in others part of India but also in European countries where sparrow is in critical condition.

Every day we should spread the grain (rice and bazara) on roofs and lawns. These grains attract the sparrows. If we provide the artificial nest boxes, it can be helpful to increase the sparrow-population. These nest boxes should be constructed by the wood-like cidar and paint with stem color. It have correct sized hole to protect from predators (cat, mouse, lizards etc.) and rain, wind too much sunlight.  

The compassion towards natural creation is a real manifestation of human beings and the duty is to conserve and preserve the environmental factors.

 

 

                    Dr. Kamal Kant Joshi

Dev Bhoomi Institute of Technology

Email: kamal_josi@yahoo.com

Dehradun