The centuries-old streets of the Valiyangadi (Big Bazaar) here have always been familiar to the sweet tweeting of house sparrows.
Flocking in groups and feeding on scattered grains on the lively lanes of the streets, they have been part of the city’s natural ambience from time immemorial. But of late, their number is decreasing slowly due to different reasons.
In an effort to check their population from dwindling further, the Social Forestry wing of the Forest Department, in association with different merchant groups in the city and the Malabar Natural History Society (MNHS), has decided to replicate a project titled ‘a nest for sparrows,’ in Kozhikode, after it was successfully introduced in Thiruvananthapuram a few years ago.
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As part of the project, small wooden nests will be fixed in different parts of the city to help the sparrows make home in it and increase their count.
“Around a dozen nests will be set up in different parts of Valiyangadi alone, where the birds are seen frequenting due to the ample availability food grains,” says P.T. Sreelekha, Forest Range Officer, Social Forestry.
The project, which was inaugurated in the city at the district-level on Thursday, will be expanded to other parts including Vadakara and Koyilandy as well later, she says.
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The wooden nests to be fixed at Valiyangadi and the neighbouring area were handed over the merchants’ representatives during the programme.
They will be asked to periodically keep a watch of the feeding, perching, nestling, and breeding habits of the birds.
“We will also collect details from the merchants twice in a month for keeping a record,” says Ms. Sreelekha.
Environment activist and merchant C.V. Hameed Valiyangadi inaugurated the programme. Forest Officials including Assistant Conservator of Forest K.P. Udayakumar, Deputy Conservator of Forest N.T. Sajan, MNHS member Sathyan Meppayur, and Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithy Valiyangadi unit president Joseph Valappad among others were present at the inaugural function.