Noida residents along with the Forest and Environment department have geared up to protect sparrows in urban areas, whose number has fast dwindled in recent years.
Women from Noida Sector-14-A, Officer Colony on Thursday installed 100 artificial sparrow nests in the parks in a bid to conserve sparrows. The initiatives are being taken in run-up to the World Sparrow Day on March 20.
Rakesh Khatri, an environmentalist from Noida, shared his knowledge on the birds with residents. “We have to provide good natural habitats to conserve sparrow in the parks to stabilise their population. Their number has dwindled in recent years,” Khatri said.
Pratibha Raman, a resident, said, “We need to focus on ensuring balance between ecological and environmental system. Every resident should make efforts to save birds and conserve sparrows in their areas,”
NP Singh, President, Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Association. (FONRWA) said that the residents try their efforts to conserve sparrow in their areas. “15 years ago, we were found sparrow every where but it is surprising where all the sparrows have gone. They are rarely seen in Noida. Mobile phone towers hurt their habitats but there are good possibilities for them to back home now after new mobile tower policy.”
Vikrant Tongad, environment activist from Greater Noida, said that the house sparrow is one of the most ubiquitous birds and is often found in Noida but they are losing their habitats due to rapid construction. Their numbers are good in Greater Noida and its rural areas.
“Installing artificial nests are good efforts but they need more focus on their feeding with regular monitoring before the breeding season as they often start searching nest sites from February onwards.” Tongad said.
On Monday, Okhla Bird Sanctuary officials had distributed 53 artificial sparrow nests to school children. Children were also given a guided forest tour.