World Sparrow Day 2023
SHAURYA THAPA
world sparrow day
Every year, March 20 is celebrated as the World Sparrow Day to raise awareness around the house sparrow and similarly threatened birds in urban environments.
photo: unsplash
Did you know an Indian sparrow has its own grave?
GRAVE FOR A SPARROW
When a sparrow died in a police firing in 1974 in Ahmedabad, the locals ended up burying the bird in a grave. The plaque still stands to this day.
PHOTO: @PARVEENKASWAN/TWITTEREXTINCTION IN DELHI
Once abundant in Delhi, the house sparrow went almost extinct in the national capital around 2012. This prompted Delhi to support conservation measures.
photo: unsplashthe sparrows return
Delhi declared the house sparrow as the state bird and NGOs also joined hands to protect their habitat. As a result, sparrows began to be seen again in 2020.
photo: gettyThe fight isn't over
Even though sparrows have started returning in Delhi & other Indian cities, it will still take time for the birds to return to the older numbers, experts suggest.
photo: unsplashWHERE ARE THEY FOUND TODAY?
"The modern lifestyle & infrastructure don't support house sparrows. The sightings are limited to Old Delhi & JNU campus "
-Zoologist Surya Prakash to PTI
who started sparrow day?
World Sparrow Day was the idea of the international non-profit The Forever Society that was set up by Indian conservationist Mohammed Dilawar.
photo: worldsparrowday.orgsparrow awards
photo: nature forever societyTo encourage conservations of sparrows and similar birds, the Forever Society also instituted the annual Sparrow Awards starting in 2011.
ALL THAT BREATHES
photo: hbo maxNadeem Shehzad and Mohammed Saud, the vet brothers featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary All That Breathes also won the Sparrow Award in 2014.