Mysore/Mysuru: Marking the World Sparrow Day (Mar. 20) celebrations, Srinivasan Services Trust of TVS Motor Company and Wildlife Conservation Foundation, Mysuru, had organised an awareness programme for Doddakanya and Sindhuvalli school children about the conservation of sparrows. Sparrow nests were also distributed among villagers of Motta village in Nanjangud taluk.

Villagers were informed about the importance of the sparrow population in the ecosystem and about conservation of the common bird of the  backyard which is on the verge of extinction now.

Srinivasan Services Trust Regional Director S. Subrahmanyam, who spoke on the occasion, said that sparrows used to build its nest on the rooftops of country- tiled houses, wells, old buildings etc. “But in the world of urbanisation we can hardly find country-tile roofed houses as the RCC roofed houses have increased. As a result of urbanisation, the population of House Sparrows has declined. It is everyone’s duty to conserve these birds which might completely vanish from the ecosystem one fine day,” he added.

Wildlife Conservation Foundation Head Rajkumar D. Urs said that sparrows had a good relationship and bond with the farmers back in those days. “House Sparrows were more in number in the rural habitat as there were more country-tiled roof houses in villages those days. However, it is hard to find those kinds of houses even in villages nowadays. If the same situation continues, it will be hard for the future generation to see the House Sparrows and must see one in a photograph. Hence, it is our duty to create an environment that helps the sparrows to find a suitable habitat to survive,” he added.

School Teachers, Village leaders, Trust and Foundation Members and others were present on the occasion.