Return of the sparrow

We spotted 32 varieties of birds including Golden Oriole, Red Vented Bulbuls, Sunbirds, Tree Pie, Peacocks among others but not a single sparrow in our colony. It got us thinking and we decided to do something about it,” says Rajini. This was in 2008. Today, one can spot at least a few sparrows in the numerous nesting boxes kept in and around the colony in Attapur.

There is no guarantee that sparrows would return by just placing a nesting box, constant monitoring, correct placement and proper environment is needed says Rajini.

It has taken almost eight years for the sparrow to return but the path has been arduous and trial and error ridden says Rajini. We understood how and in which direction the nesting boxes should be placed, which are the trees that sparrows feel comfortable in and how much of human interference is needed, she says.

For one, nesting boxes should not dangle and should be placed about 10-12 feet height in south east direction so that there is no direct sunlight of rain. Also people like to place the boxes on branches it just does not work as it becomes accessible for cats.

People usually want to place the boxes in home gardens but it is balconies where the success rate is high says Rajini adding that the pesticides that people use in home gardens is harmful to birds and the bits of food that they drop is eaten by chicks which leads to their death.

In the last few years, Citizens Action for Local Biodiversity Awareness and Conservation (CALBAC), the organisation she started has set up nesting boxes in dozen colonies in the city and in neighbouring districts.

CALBAC distributes nesting boxes free of cost to those who are serious about bird conservation. The boxes are made with waste wood and are made and designed by Keerthi Mehta a businessman in Secunderabad. The residents of Ambience Fort now look forward to sparrows that have made a comeback.

By:T P Venu