Sparrows get ‘man-made houses’ in Ganjam

Ganjam: Thanks to the tiring efforts of bird lovers of Anachaliaka Bikash Parishad (ABP) to provide artificial shelters, the number of chirpy sparrows has registered an increase in Gunthabandha on the outskirts of Berhampur.

The community efforts to save these tiny birds have started to show results as earlier the number of house sparrows was declining at much alarming pace.

The bird lovers of Anachaliaka Bikash Parishad had taken up the task to create habitat for the breeding of the bird species. Under the initiative, steps were taken for installation and distribution of artificial nests in houses and trees to save house sparrows.

The nests or the ‘man-made houses’ are made of clay, coconut coir, plywood and other materials. The locals also provide grain seeds, especially waste grain and livestock feed in these artificial habitats for the endangered bird species.

“We are providing artificial nests as well as bird feed for the protection of the endangered birds,” said Anachaliaka Bikash Parishad president, Sagar Kumar Patra.

The number of sparrows has registered an increase in Biribadia, Lanjia, Balakrushnapur, Dharmanagar and other villages in the region, said Ganjam DFO, Asish Behera.

“The efforts of the youths are certainly commendable as sparrows have returned to their natural habitats near human settlements in several parts. We hope that such model is also replicated in other parts of the State,” Behera added.