A Day For Buddy Best,The Brownie Bird

There is a reason why I call the followers of this blog as‘My Sparrows’.Everyone is going to know the secret today for this is their day, the World House Sparrow Day. The Bombay Natural History Society started this wonderful initiative last year.While we talk of tiger conservations and else we have forgotten that we have started deforesting our homes very long ago.When was the last time a sparrow thought of being our guest,lets ask ourselves.We know the answers,don’t we?   

Living in a part of the city which is covered with moderate greenery I am fortunate enough to see these little birds at my window sill and balcony almost everyday.The sparrows who visit me have always been dear to me.I am now used to watching and listening to them for hours.They have been my constant companions,from the chirping alarm at dawn to the twittering whisper at dusk.They talk to me all the time and I really love them.These are the first birds who made good friends with me.And this is why the ones who visit me here with the same love are called‘My Sparrows’.Each one of you is special to me in the same way,I am happy about that.Thank you.

What is bothering is that the sparrows of the world today are without any grains and nests.Once upon a time these were our friendly neighborhood birds and now they are our urban dodos.This is a sorry state of affair receiving not much of attention,but it actually deserves.What we must understand is that sparrows are more than ecological indicators,they are birds wanting to live but we humans don’t let them.They are our first friends and we have deceived them.We are directly responsible for their declining numbers,the various reasons are:

No Home: Owing to urbanization,modern constructions and concrete buildings there is a dearth of nesting sites.Sparrows previously used to nest on rooftops and crevices,these are the little places they ask for and sadly now we do not give them even that.So will we stop building our houses?

No Food: Today all our food comes pre cleaned and in sealed packets.People used to sun dry all grains,but that was ages back.There are no insects to feed on either.No wonder sparrows find it difficult to find the way to our homes.So will we stop buying packed stuff?

Pesticides: The increasing use of pesticides in agriculture is one of the major causes for the disturbance in ecology and sparrows aren’t any spared.So will we stop protecting our crops?

Microwaves: Research has shown that electromagnetic radiation is harmful and affects the breeding of sparrows.So will we stop using our cellphones?

*Attitude:Man is a social animal we say,he used to be very long ago is what I believe because today he is just an 'animal'.In the past pets were considered as our kith and kin,every living being was dear to us.But these days we are busy deciding on which flight to catch or to where,forget making the sparrows fly!Its the TBTC Syndrome again.Conservations,campaigns and anything to do with the green is for the environmentalists,so is our attitude.Until we change this there shall be no wild revolution in its truest sense.So will we change our attitude?

We are not really kind to stop all this,we are the Homo sapiens.We follow the ‘Survival Of The Fittest’ rule way over nature’s limit.But once in a while it is sensible and good on our part to help other living beings survive too.This is something which we really need to do,a little effort and a little time is all that it requires to'be humane'.Here are some suggestions,follow them for there is only good and no harm:

• Place earthen water pots in your balconies and gardens.
• Feed the birds with some grains.
• Keep artificial nest boxes for them to lay eggs.

Passer domesticus

Your buddy best the brownie bird

I am and my wish is not any absurd

For my hunger a little grain or seed

Water on your roofs for me to feed

A nest in between this land and sky

For my frail little kids to rest and fly

Can you give me O' dearest a friend

Or should I sing the song of my end?

-R-

Some useful websites to visit:

• World Sparrow Day
• Ecowalkthetalk-Mohammed Dilawar-World Sparrow Day-March 20th
• Deccan Herald-Where Have All The Sparrows Gone
• TOI-Mission Sparrow Bring Them Back
• TOI-Bring Those Chirps Back To Your Life

Help and have no mind narrow,rise for it is the fall of a sparrow...

-R.