In the constant hum of city life, the soft, melodious chirping of sparrows has become a fading echo. Once common in bustling urban neighbourhoods, these small, seemingly inconspicuous birds have been quietly vanishing. But their absence points to deeper, more pressing environmental issues.
Sparrows are known as bioindicators; their presence (or absence) is a direct reflection of the environment’s overall health. A steady decline in their population hints at the creeping consequences of urbanisation—from the overuse of pesticides and lack of green cover to increasing air and noise pollution, and a new wave of modern architectural designs that eliminate natural nesting nooks like crevices, ledges and eaves. Each of these factors chips away at the delicate balance that once allowed sparrows to flourish alongside us.
