PAWS Mumbai to host competitions for building awareness

The rapidly declining population of sparrows has been a cause of alarm for many environmental groups working in the city. Plants and Animals Welfare Society's (PAWS) Mumbai wing has organised a series of competitions for children to participate in and realise the importance of being sensitive to the needs of the tiny bird. The competitions have been organised on the occasion of World Sparrow Day – March 20.

Sunish Subramanian Kunju, secretary of PAWS Mumbai said: "Our main motto is to conserve and protect common house sparrow's through awareness campaigns by involving students, youth and common citizen."

Kunju added that the plight of the birds has been greatly affected by development of urban spaces, saying: "Sparrows prefer to have small cubby holes and gaps rather than big chambers, which suit pigeons' nesting habits.

So, sparrows have no place to nest."

He added that sparrows even suffer with regards to their dietary needs. "It mainly feeds on food grains and now, fewer people lay their grains out in the sun to dry. So, it's necessary that people build birdhouses to help these birds survive," he said.

The competition has more than 1,500 students participating, the results of which will be declared on March 22.

How to attract a Sparrow
Provide nesting spot by adopting a nest box
Place a water bowl outside your house or office
Keep food in bowl or adopt a feeder
Grow native plants, which attract birds