The diminutive house sparrow (Passer domesticus), whose nests dotted almost every house in the neighbourhood as well as public places like bus bays and railway stations, where they lived in colonies and survived on foodgrains and tiny worms, is now a disappearing species. A three-year project initiated by the Indian Ministry for Environment and Forest to help save the sparrows in India is being managed in conjunction with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). The environmentalist Mohammed E. Dilawar of the BNHS will head the project. Dilawar has been working for the cause of sparrow conservation for more than five years. In 2008, Time recognized him as a “hero” of the environment. He also started the Nature Forever Society and is encouraging like-minded people to join his movement. Excerpts from a conversation...
Tell us about the award you recently received.
I felt really overwhelmed after receiving the award. I felt extremely proud that an Indian was featured for such a prestigious award. I also felt extremely humble when my name was added to the list of legends like Mikhail Gorbachev, Prince Charles, Sir David Attenborough and Noble laureates like Al Gore and Wangari Maathai, all of whom have received this prestigious award. The award also helped tremendously in bringing to light the plight of the house sparrow, which is such an ignored species
Is the sparrow's urban habitat responsible for its decline? Would it have been safer if it confined itself to the wilderness?
You won't find sparrows in jungles, deserts or places where humans are not present. The sparrow is a species that has evolved with humans and is always found in and around human habitations.
It's not the urban habitat but the modification in architecture , the pollution caused by microwave towers; the excessive use of pesticides, a gradual decrease in nesting sites, food sources and the replacement of native plants by exotic varieties, which are to be blamed.
Do sparrows, which are fiercely independent, lay eggs in the nests provided by us?
Since they have always been in and around humans, a nest box provided to them is willingly accepted by them. As the nest boxes replicate their natural nesting site it doesn't change its natural behaviour in any way.
Are sparrows an ignored species because the government spends a lot of money on saving other wild animals?
Somehow the concept of conservation as far as conservation of flora and fauna is concerned has always been T-centric that is Tiger and Threatened. If it isn't either of the Ts, it's not considered worthy of conservation in India.
This attitude towards conservation has to be changed. It's still a myth that only what is in the forests have to be considered for conservation. The layman doesn't even think that common birds like house sparrows, mynas or even squirrels are wild and also need to be conserved. These animals are also protected by the Wildlife Act of India.
This attitude is also within the scientific community ; in India there is very little research done on the common birds. Even after 60 years of Independence, we have no common bird monitoring system in place. The case of research on common birds of India is a classical example of how research and scientists are treated in India.
I have designed the whole campaign where in people are requested to adopt nest boxes and feeders for house sparrows. This not only helps the house sparrows' ecological need of food and safe nesting place but also helps in establishing emotional attachment to house sparrows, which has been lost somewhere. People will only support your fight for a cause if they connect with the issue.
Are sparrows facing a threat of extinction only in India or across the globe?
The decline of house sparrows is a global phenomenon and the species is declining in most of its natural range. The decline is visible in countries like the UK where they have historical statistical data with a decline rate as high as 67% because of which its conservation status has been changed to a red listed species of high conservation concern.
Sadly in India, we don't have any historical statistical data because no one ever cared to count house sparrows.
How long have you been involved in the conservation of sparrows? How do you go about it?
I have been involved with the conservation of house sparrows for more than five years now. Till the time of the Time award and funding from the MOEF, which came after that, it was a personal struggle. Funds were and are still a major problem as far as the conservation of common species like house sparrows is concerned.
But I like to work to find solutions rather than complain. Personally for me the journey of saving the common birds of India has only started and I have tremendously enjoyed my journey so far.
It is extremely fulfilling to save house sparrows and the rewards come in when people call you to tell that you that the nest boxes have been adopted by sparrows or their children are happy to see them feeding from the feeders.
What prompted you to seriously consider sparrow conservation? Do you also focus on other birds/animals?
I started working on house sparrows about five years back after reading a research paper from the UK in which the decline of house sparrows was reported. I immediately noticed that same was the case in India. So I started searching for scientific papers and reports. I was baffled with the outcome since there was practically no research done on the decline of house sparrows in India. There was no data on the status of common birds in India. House sparrows being a common bird were not considered important from the scientific point of view.
I was upset with this lack of scientific aptitude and decided that I will work for the house sparrows in India.
For me, my key research area is only house sparrows and I know little about other birds because I believe that it's better to stick to one thing properly rather than focusing on ten different things.
But as far as advocacy or conservation issues for other birds and animals is considered, I speak for all of them in a single voice. I want house sparrows to be considered as an umbrella species under which all common birds and animals species are conserved the same way as a tiger is to the forest.
Did you start the Nature Forever Society?
Yes, I have started the Nature Forever Society because I wanted an organisation which will work for the conservation of house sparrows, common biodiversity and which believes that every single species has an equal right on planet earth.
Nature Forever Society is a very small organisation but the goals are not small in any way. It's very difficult for us to run the society because we do not have any institutional support. So we try to raise our own funds by selling the nest boxes and feeders on a no-loss-no-profit basis.
This gives us the freedom to do the work in which we believe in.
You have likened the sparrow to the common man in Indian democracy. A very apt comparison. What do you think is the cause of this apathy?
Even though the common man, his problems and his welfare is at the centre of the idea of democracy, he is always ignored. His welfare and his security is not even considered for that matter. All this has lead to complex socio-economic problems, economic disparity and horrible standards of living.
The same is the case with house sparrows. It's only ignored because it's common; it has little glamour as compared to other species. There is little awareness with regard to the ecological role it plays.
March 20th is being observed as World House Sparrow Day, an international initiative by Nature Forever Society, in collaboration with the Bombay Natural History Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology (USA), Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France), Avon Wildlife Trust (UK) and numerous other national and international organisations across the world.
The event not only celebrates the beauty of the house sparrow, but all common birds and biodiversity found around us. The event is being promoted by an interactive website www.worldhousesparrowday.org which will be the nerve centre of the whole event. Organisations and individuals from across the world can register their events and activities on this website.
The World House Sparrow Day will also promote events like common bird watching trips, public discussions, exhibitions, presentations, bird rallies, art competitions, educational and public events all aimed at paying more attention to the birds in their neighbourhood and their conservation.
The central theme for the introductory year of World House Sparrow Day is “Help House Sparrows,” which aims to highlight the reasons for the decline of the species due to the lack of nesting sites, food, effects of pesticides, microwave pollution and how we can help them in fighting against these odds.
(For information on events for World House Sparrow day, log onto www.worldhousesparrowday.org)
