Dr. Kate Vincent was intrigued by the decline of house sparrows in the UK. As she delved deeper, her research proved that sparrows had far fewer insects to eat. Their young are fed exclusively on an insect diet for the first 15 days of their life. The more insects we kill off, the higher the mortality rate of young house sparrows. When the future generation isn't secure, nor is the future of the house sparrow.







Native trees attract insects and they are all a part of the natural ecosystem. Of course, it makes sense to plant native trees and bushes but we should also stop using chemical pesticides and fertilizers in our gardens. Use organic fertilizers and pesticides only when needed.

Ironically, cell phones and their towers are as ubiquitous in the urban landscape as the house sparrow once was. Research in Spain proved that microwaves released from these towers harm house sparrows. Increase in the concentration of microwaves decreases house sparrow populations. A recent scientific study measuring microwave concentration in Mumbai revealed that the microwave pollution in Mumbai in 200 times more than that of the permissible European levels. It mentioned that living in such high concentrations of microwave pollution is as good a sitting in an X-ray room. The decline of House Sparrow due to polluted environments is an indicator of the degrading environment in which we all live. 3G mobile phone technology requires three times more cellphone towers. We may not even be able to imagine their impact on the health of house sparrows.




There is no solution in sight since not many of us will stop using mobile phones even when they know its injurious to their health. The government can bring in strict norms. We need more research to eliminate the harmful effects of microwave technology and to explore other alternative technology.

Each time we uproot a hedge to put up a fence or a wall, we rob the sparrow of a natural, safe haven where it can rest between forages and preen its feathers, or even escape from predators.










Plant hedges of native plants (MOHAMMED, LIST) which will offer an ideal habitat to house sparrows and other common birds. There is no space here for exotic, introduced plants (LIKE?). In places where a natural hedge is not possible due to security reasons, native creepers can be planted to climb on wire fences and walls. Espaliered trees take little space since they grow flat against a wall. They provide necessary green cover for birds besides offering your house natural greenery, improved aesthetics and cleaner air.

The human population is larger than it ever has been. Agriculture needs to keep pace to feed these hungry mouths. So, agricultural practices that lasted hundreds of years have suddenly changed. Large tracts of lands have come under monoculture or a single crop, some of which are exotic and alien to the food habits of birds. This means, less variety in food for birds and animals. India is the world's largest user of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. This has killed off a number of farmland birds including the house sparrow that have lost both food and habitat.






Organic farming practices should be encouraged. The use of organic fertilizers and fertilizers should be researched. Strict regulations are required on the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Modern matchbox-shaped houses are not sparrow-friendly. Their glass or aluminum composite exterior walls offer sparrows no nooks and crannies for nesting. Contemporary sparrows, unlike their forefathers, simply can't find places to rest their eggs.









While constructing new buildings, provide nesting sites for birds of different sizes including house sparrows. In buildings or homes where there are no natural nesting places, we should adopt or set up nest boxes for sparrows. This will help the house sparrow raise a family.

Help Bird by Adopting a Nest Box

Today, our forests, gardens, backyards and front lawns are full of exotic plants that turn them into green deserts in the urban landscape. Not only do these green deserts require more chemical fertilizers and pesticides which pollute the environment, they kill beneficial insects and microorganisms. This creates a serious shortage of food for insect-eating birds. These exotic plants also require more water, putting a strain on our scarce resources, making them just eye candy that is often invasive. Not convinced? Think of introduced exotic plants like the lantana and water hyacinth that have caused havoc.



Go Swadeshi. Plant only native plants even if your garden translates to five pots on the window sill. Native plants will not only attract birds but also help the environment. Replace exotic plants and trees with native plants.

House sparrows are finding it increasingly difficult to find food as our lifestyle has changed dramatically. If sparrows could, they would bring back the horse carriages (tanga) since they shared a symbiotic relationship with the horses, sharing the grains that fell off their feed. They probably wonder why the individual homemaker picks pre-packaged, clean grain from a mall and no longer sits outside her house cleaning grain leaving something for the birds to pick on.







Grain! Setting out clean grain at the same, safe place and at the same time every day, round the year, has brought sparrows back to many localities across India. The grain can be filled in scientifically designed feeders that not only prevent the wastage but are a hygienic store. You needn't buy the feeder if you can make one yourself. Avoid feeding birds stale, salty or oily leftover food. Bread is only a filler since it has little nutritional value. Grains like wheat should are too large and tough be fed to the sparrows. Instead, feed house sparrows broken rice or rice in the summer and bird seed or bajra (pearl millet) year-round.

Help Sparrows by Adopting a Bird Feeder