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The Indian house sparrow, Passer domesticus indicus, is a small bird that is common in India, found in close contact with humans, instead of forests. Over recent years, according to the study, the house sparrow population has been on the decline in many Asian countries, which is quite evident in India. To understand the reason for their decline a study was conducted in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, during 2007–2008. The population of the house sparrows was counted at five sampling sites: agricultural area, marketplace, bus stand, residential area, and industrial area. The industrial area showed a decline in the population compared to other areas. The study was conducted again after 12 years at the same sampling site during the pandemic. It was observed an increase of 128% in the agricultural area, 233% in the marketplace, 369% in the bus stand area, 131% in the residential area, and 214% in the industrial area. It was interesting to notice a pronounced increase in all the study sites, which is slightly deviating from the other studies that reported their decline. The increase in numbers may be due to the fewer working men and less usage of the equipment during the pandemic.
School of Agricultural Sciences, Amrita Vidya Vishwapeetham, Coimbatore, India
Priya Raman
School of Life Sciences (Ooty Campus), JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Ooty, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
*Address all correspondence to: mahasundar@jssuni.edu.in
1. Introduction
The Indian house sparrow, Passer domesticus indicus, is one of the commonest birds in India. The species is native to and resides in urban and rural areas across India, Burma, Africa, Britain, and Northern Siberia [1]. The house sparrows are exceptional ‘invaders’ [2] of the tropics and have ‘followed humans worldwide’. It is a non-migratory species and is closely tied to human activity. The species breed in small colonies or in loose groups [3, 4]. House sparrows are commonly found around human dwellings and feed on grains and insects. House sparrows are opportunistic feeders and adapt to a variety of food sources. In the 1920’s the house sparrow was regarded as a very serious pest of the growing crops. Later it was observed that house sparrows effectively control many pests of crops. It is also said these birds fly high during the rainy season predicting rainfall. In recent years, there have been reports of the house sparrow population declining throughout Europe [5, 6].
The small-sized bird is known for its distinctive brown-gray plumage and its familiar chirping call. It is monogamous [4] with a small stout conical beak. The bird has a typical length of 16 cm (ranging from 14 to 18 cm), and its mass ranges from 24 to 39.5 g. Males are usually larger than the females. House sparrows also engage in social activities such as dust or water bathing and social singing in which birds call together in shrub bushes, or trees [7]. In recent years, the house sparrow population has been declining in many Asian countries, which is quite evident in India.
Coimbatore is a city in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu and is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu [8]. Coimbatore villages are peaceful and scenic with agricultural and artisanal traditions. Coimbatore is one of the most industrialized cities in Tamil Nadu, known as the textile capital of South India or the Manchester of the South. The city is situated on the banks of the river Noyyal. It is regarded as one of the most urbanized and polluted cities in Tamil Nadu [8]. The town is rapidly deteriorating into environmental decay and degeneration. Rapid industrialization and unlimited urbanization have created environmental disasters. Studies of the urban bird species in India are still in their infancy. There is a dearth of information regarding their distribution, population, dynamics, and threats.
House sparrows have been abundant in the Coimbatore region in the last two or three decades. Of late, their population has been declining at an alarming rate in this region [9]. These birds are an integral part of the ecosystem, and their loss can have cascading effects on other species. It is important to conduct research to understand the reasons behind the decline in the population of Indian house sparrows. This can help in identifying effective conservation strategies that can address the root causes of the problem. As no valid data on their decline are available, a study was conducted to know the incidence of house sparrows in different locations in Coimbatore.
The house sparrows are culturally prominent and found in most parts of the world. This small bird belongs to the order of the perching birds and sparrow family. The genus Passer contains about 25 species according to the Handbook of Birds of the World. There are more than 12 recognized subspecies [10]. These subspecies vary in their distribution and characteristics, reflecting regional adaptations and genetic diversity. Few recognized subspecies
Passer domesticus domesticus (found in Europe, Asia and North Africa)
Passer domesticus indicus (found in the Indian subcontinent)
Passer domesticus bactrianus (found in Central Asia)
Passer domesticus tingitanus (found in Morocco and parts of North Africa)
Passer domesticus niloticus (found in parts of Sudan and Ethiopia)
Passer domesticus balearoibericus (found in the Balearic Islands of Spain)
The Passer domesticus was described as a species and Passer domesticus indicus was considered a distinct subspecies by many ornithologists during the 19th century [11]. Passer domesticus indicus have white cheeks and is widely distributed in the Indian subcontinent and is also found in Southern Israel and most of the Arabian Peninsula east to southern Iran, India, and Sri Lanka [12].
The study areas were chosen based on the types of habitats in different directions. The population trends of the house sparrows were counted at five sampling sites (Figure 1), namely, agricultural area with farmlands (Kovanoor), densely populated marketplace (Periyanaickenpalayam), highly vehicular traffic area – bus stand (Veerapandi pirivu), moderately populated and moderately vehicular traffic residential area (Press colony) and highly polluted industrial area (Shanthimedu).
Figure 1.
Study site.
The counting of birds was carried out in the morning from 7 to 10 AM when they are most active and conspicuous [13]. No single survey can provide all the necessary data for every research question [14]. Surveys were, therefore, conducted once a fortnight in the identified locations [13] from June 2007 to February 2008. After a long period, the same places were selected and observed during the lockdown period from June 2020 to February 2021. Regular field observation was also made on the nest, nesting sites, feeding habitats, and food sources [13]. Recordings were also made season-wise. The number of sparrows was conducted by field methods, recording methods, and distance estimates. In this study, the number of sparrows was counted by the point count method. The census method involving repeated counts in the same place in successive months is likely to provide an accurate picture of the population status [15, 16].
The observations made on the abundance of Passer domesticus indicus populations in different regions are given in Table 1. The data reveals that population declines have occurred in both urban and rural areas, but more in the former [15]. This should be a serious public concern [17]. The agricultural area selected for the study is Kovanoor. Most of the population is engaged in farming activities. It is situated near the Noyyal River and several smaller streams, which provide water for irrigation and contribute to the area. The highest number of 277 house sparrows were observed in the agricultural area. Moderate numbers of 219 sparrows were recorded in the residential (Press colony). They are adapted to living in close proximity to humans and are often found in gardens, parks in residential areas.
Months
Agriculture
Market
Bus Stand
Residential
Industrial
June
25
10
4
17
7
July
27
7
2
15
5
August
20
9
3
14
6
September
33
15
5
23
3
October
35
12
4
27
2
November
31
18
3
30
5
December
39
19
4
34
4
January
32
23
5
30
2
February
35
15
3
29
7
Total
277
128
33
219
41
Status
I
III
V
II
IV
Table 1.
June 2007 to February 2008.
One hundred twenty eight sparrows were recorded in the market area (Periyanaickenpalayam). In market areas, they may be attracted to food stalls, where they can scavenge leftover food and crumbs. They may also be attracted to areas where grains or other food items are stored or sold. The population has undergone a significant decline in the number of 41 in the industrial area (Shanthimedu). While house sparrows can adapt to living in industrial areas, it is important to be aware of the potential hazards associated with industrial activity. Thirty three were recorded in the bus stand area, Veerapandi Pirivu. House sparrows are not commonly found in bus stand areas as these environments are typically noisy and heavily trafficked by people and vehicles. Additionally, bus stand areas tend to have a limited amount of vegetation and green spaces, which can make it difficult for birds to find suitable nesting sites and foraging opportunities [18].
Conservation efforts in all these environments can help to promote the diversity of bird populations and support the health of the ecosystem. The population of house sparrows was seen to be more pronounced in the winter period [19] (December, January, February) than in the spring (June, July, August) and autumn (September, October, November) period. This increase in the number of birds in winter may be due to successive breeding of the sparrows. Certainly, house sparrows can continue to coexist with humans and flourish where they live.
It was observed that the population of these birds has increased during the pandemic, shown in Table 2. The birds showed an increased population of 78 in the agricultural area, 171 in the marketplace, 89 in the bus stand area, 70 in the residential area, and 47 in the industrial area. This may be due to the lesser vehicular usage. In the industrial area, the population was pronounced high compared to the other months when the study was conducted particularly during the breeding season. The percentage increase in the house sparrow is given in Table 3. This shows that the population has increased in the bus stand area by 369% followed by the marketplace with 233%, industrial area by 214%, residential area by 131%, and agricultural area by 128%. All the other study areas showed more birds compared to the earlier study. The COVID–19 pandemic has primarily affected humans with social and economic impacts worldwide. This has changed human behavior like less travel and outdoor activities during lockdown. This may also play a role in the increase in the population.
The decrease in the population of house sparrows may be due to the unavailability of plenty of food such as grains, insects in the vegetables (caterpillars), and suitable nesting sites [20] in the agricultural area [13, 15]. It has been reported that house sparrows usually build their nests in the crevices of thatched roofs of old houses, electric pipelines, ventilation holes, and in the space available on the electricity meters [21]. Planting hedgerows and other native vegetation to provide food and shelter for birds and creating nesting sites [22] for birds may improve their population. Farmers can control the spread of non-native animals such as feral cats or European starlings, which can compete with house sparrows for food and nesting sites. It is also known that sparrows in small groups rest on hanging electric wires in city areas [13]. A similar pattern was observed in the present study also, shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2.
House sparrows resting on electric wires.
The decline in the number in residential areas is due to the presence of cell phone towers [23]. Gardens are increasingly popular in Coimbatore. They are often treated as external rooms, where bird feeding is done with good quantity and a range of foodstuffs [24]. A group of house sparrows chirping in the evening was observed on a shrub (Figure 3) and in garden landscapes (Figure 4). The dismantling of tiled houses and construction of concrete buildings has become a problem to house sparrows for their living and breeding. Modern buildings are generally without roof spaces for nesting [25]. Roof repairs and loft conversions are more prevalent in wealthier areas. Even when the nesting sites are available crows frequently destroy the chicks by either pulling them out of the nest or capturing them when they take their first flight [26, 27, 28].
Figure 3.
House sparrows chirping in the evening.
Figure 4.
House sparrows in the garden landscape.
Many buildings and landowners are leasing their rooftops and nearby garden land to telecommunication companies. The owners may not be aware of the hazardous effect. This may also be a reason for their general population decline. One way to provide nesting sites for house sparrows is by installing birdhouses or nesting boxes in suitable locations. These can be designed to mimic natural nesting sites, such as cavities in trees or buildings, and can be placed in sheltered areas around the market (Figures 5–12) [29].
Figure 5.
Artificial nests mimicking the natural nests. [Hindustan Tiimes, march 21, 2022].
Figure 6.
Artificial nests mimicking the natural nests. [birdbgone.com].
Figure 7.
Artificial nests mimicking the natural nests. [www.youtube.com].
Figure 8.
Artificial nests mimicking the natural nests. [www.sialis.org].
Figure 9.
Artificial nests mimicking the natural nests. [amazon.in].
Artificial nests mimicking the natural nests. [times of India, march 20, 2020].
Figure 12.
Artificial nests mimicking the natural nests. [odishabytes.com, march 20, 2021].
Studies on food supplementation experiments have shown that the decline could be related to a reduction in winter food supplies [15, 30]. The moderate number of populations observed in the market area is due to the reduction of food availability. Habitat quality is known to have a major influence on sparrow populations with the availability of food sources [31, 32, 33].
In industrial areas, they may feed on scraps of human food found in dumpsters or other waste areas. Increased human activity and vehicle traffic in these areas can pose a risk to birds. To minimize the impact of noise and other forms of disturbances on house sparrows, it is important to implement measures to reduce noise levels and create suitable habitats that are less susceptible to disturbances.
It is important to keep these feeding stations clean and well-maintained to prevent the spread of disease. Minimizing human activity around bird habitats during the breeding season can help to reduce disturbance and promote successful reproduction. Monitoring bird populations is important to ensure that conservation efforts are effective and that bird populations remain healthy and thriving. It is important to work with local authorities and organizations to develop bird-friendly policies and practices in industrial areas, such as guidelines for the management of industrial waste and the use of bird-friendly materials and designs in industrial infrastructure.
In marketplace, there were fewer house sparrows recorded due to the reduction in the number of domestic animals. Due to this reduction, fewer amount of food resources like spilled grains as both feed and dung are available to the house sparrows [34]. The causes for the decline of the house sparrows may also include a reduction of food supplies, possibly from the reduced refuse along the roads, more efficient street cleaning, a reduction of weedy areas in both private and public gardens [10], and a reduction of private small scale poultry farming practices in rural areas [14]. The existence of few houses with limited availability of nesting sites and food availability is also a reason for their lesser population. By creating green spaces, and a more hospitable environment for house sparrows we can help to ensure that these important habitats continue to support diverse bird populations [35]. Reducing pollution can help improve air and water quality while promoting the coexistence of birds and humans can help to promote a sense of community and connection to nature.
The House sparrow population has been dwindling in many parts of the world, and India is no exception. Noyyal River is a vital ecosystem that supports a wide range of plant and animal species, including several species of birds. House sparrows may be attracted to areas where there is vegetation cover, such as grassy areas and scrublands. They may also be attracted to areas with human-made structures, such as buildings or warehouses, where they can build their nests in crevices or holes. The house sparrows have adapted to living near humans, their populations have been declining in recent years, and conservation efforts are needed to help support their populations. There is thus a serious threat to the survival of house sparrows. Unless they adapt to the changes, house sparrows may migrate or gradually disappear. House sparrows are known to thrive in rural and agricultural environments with a mix of green spaces, open areas, and buildings with suitable nesting sites.
Species, by their very nature, have specific ecological requirements. They may appear to share the same habitat as many others, but each has a different specific niche [36]. Creating bird-friendly habitats, providing supplemental food and water sources for birds, particularly during drought or when natural food sources are scarce. Pesticide use can be harmful to birds and other wildlife, so it is important for farmers and residents in the area to minimize the use of harmful chemicals [37]. Protecting natural water sources and ensuring that agricultural practices are sustainable and environmentally friendly can help maintain and enhance the biodiversity of the area. Farmers and other landowners can also work to control the spread of invasive plant species, which can displace native vegetation and reduce available habitat for birds. Habitats must, however, meet the needs of the species that depend on them [28]. Adoption of sustainable practices and technologies [3] that reduce the environmental impact of industrial activity i.e., by use of renewable energy sources such as solar power.
In addition to habitat loss and pesticide use [37], other factors that contribute to the decline in the population of Indian house sparrows include air pollution, electromagnetic radiation [5, 23], and the lack of nesting sites. As urbanization and development continue to expand in India, it is important to take steps to conserve the natural habitats of these birds and promote their survival.
Conservation is not just about avoiding extinctions but also restoring or recovering species populations to secure levels [36]. The rapid decline of house sparrows is a serious concern because,
If such a human-associated bird species is suddenly declining, the situation seems to be bleak. The future looks even bleaker for other species that are more sensitive to human habitat change and require more pristine habitats.
The implication of the decline in sparrow populations is also reflected in the living conditions in the human environment, particularly in the cities.
Conserving and restoring habitats on the landscape scale is vital to nature conservation, especially to make biodiversity robust to environmental change. Apart from conservation efforts, research on the biology, behavior, and habitat requirements of Indian house sparrows are important to understand the reasons behind their decline and to develop effective conservation strategies [38]. Raising awareness through educational initiatives, such as workshops or public outreach programs, as well as through media campaigns about the importance of conserving house sparrow populations can help to promote positive attitudes and behaviors towards bird conservation.
Many government and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in India are working together to conserve house sparrows. The Nature Forever Society, a Mumbai-based organization, has launched a nationwide campaign called “Save Our Sparrows” to promote the conservation of these birds. The organization motivates people to fabricate suitable habitats for sparrows, providing nest boxes, and bird feeders and promoting awareness about the importance of conservation.
Rural areas in and around Coimbatore are facing a diversity of environmental challenges, like climate change, water scarcity, and soil degradation. Addressing these challenges will require a collaborative effort from the local community, as well as support from the government and other organizations. The situation in Coimbatore is thus alarming. Immediate conservation measures are, therefore, required to be carried out in the coming years. Conservation plans and status assessments at the national level should be implemented to check the decline of sparrow populations. By working together, it may be possible to ensure that places remain sustainable and lively for future generations.
In conclusion, monitoring bird populations is important to make sure that conservation efforts are effective, and that populations remain healthy and flourishing. This can be done through citizen science programs, or other monitoring initiatives, which can help to identify trends in bird populations and track the effectiveness of conservation efforts. Trailing broader environmental and social goals can help to promote the coexistence of birds and humans in these environments. The Passer domesticus indicus is an important bird species that plays a significant role in maintaining the ecological balance in urban and rural areas of India. One must strive hard to conserve this species by promoting awareness, reducing pesticide use, and promoting suitable nesting sites and food sources for the birds. Efforts from individuals, organizations, and the government are needed to promote their survival and ensure that future generations can enjoy the presence of these charming and important birds. The decline of house sparrows is not unique but has been observed in other parts of the world as well. Therefore, international collaboration and research can help develop effective strategies for the conservation of these subspecies globally.
We thank the staff members of the Department of Zoology, Kongunadu Arts and Science College for their help and support.
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Written By
Mahalakshmi Sundarapandian and Priya Raman
Submitted: 12 May 2023Reviewed: 18 May 2023Published: 09 August 2023
Open access peer-reviewed chapter
