Berhampur: A drive to protect house sparrows birds through an awareness programme was started here on Thursday.
The Berhampur division of forest department in association with Anchalik Bikas Parishad Gunthabandha launched the plan to save these birds by distributing free artificial nests and feeder bottles to facilitate their reproduction. The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a member of the old world sparrow family Passeridae.
This 14 to 16 cm long bird has a wing span of 19-25 cm. It is a small, stocky song bird that weighs 26 to 32 grams, according to ornithologists.
"We distributed 30 artificial nests made of plywood and 15 feeder bottles free of cost to people at eleven blocks in Ganjam, including Rangeilunda, Ptrapur, Chikiti, Chatrapur, Ganjam, Beguniapada, Khallikote, Digapahandi, Sanakhemundi and Hinjili, and two wards of Berhampur Municipal Corporation, including 1 and 26. Prior to it we visited some villages under various blocks and requested them to cooperate. People personally to the forest division office here and received the artificial nests and feeder bottles. We will again visit their area within one week and install these artificial nests and feeder bottles there. The process will be completed within two months," said president of Anchalik Bikas Parishad Gunthabandha Sagar Kumar Patra. "We will launch the programme in Bhanjanagar in the next phase and at Jiranga and Rayagada in Gajapati district," he said.
Each artificial nest costs between Rs 250 to Rs 300 and feeder bottle Rs 170 to Rs 200. We mobilise the resource through contribution of members, said Sagar.
Sabuja Bahini led by Sibaram Panigrahi, Boxing Odisha led by Kabiraj Gouda and Marwadi Mahila Samiti led by Mamata Chowdhury backed the initiative.
Berhampur divisional forest officer Ashis Kumar Behera said earlier nesting was never a problem as every house used to have a backyard and enough greenery to attract these species.
"Now, with the apartment culture on the rise, these birds hardly find space to build their nests. Encroachment of green space, use of insecticides and pesticides, increase in pollution levels and radiation from cell phone towers has also effected the reproduction of these birds. We want to spread awareness to protect these birds," Behera said.
Ophthalmologist and retired professor of MKCG Medical College and Hospital B Nageswar Rao Subudhi announced formation of an organisation
"Natures Lovers Odisha" which will work for the protection of endangered species.
House sparrow popularly known as ghara chatia in Odisha are on the verge of extinction. In India, these birds are is popularly known as goraiya.
Once a common bird of Europe, its number is fast decreasing. In Netherlands, these birds are considered an endangered species. There population have dropped in the United Kingdom as well. French ornithologists have charted a steep decline in Paris and other cities.
