World Sparrow Day 2024

• 22 Mar 2024

Source: BS

Why in News?

Every year, World Sparrow Day is observed on March 20, shedding light on the significance of sparrows in maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance.

What are the Key Highlights of the World Sparrow Day 2024?

• Theme: In 2024, the theme for World Sparrow Day is “Sparrows: Give them a tweet-chance!”, “I Love Sparrows” and “We Love Sparrows”.
• History: The inaugural World Sparrow Day took place on March 20, 2010. In India, it was initiated by the Nature Forever Society.
  • Founded by Mohammed Dilawar, an Indian conservationist, the society aimed to emphasize the importance of conserving house sparrows and other common birds.

What are the Key Facts About Sparrow?

• Sparrows are crucial for biodiversity and plant growth in ecosystems. They consume and excrete seeds, helping to disperse plant seeds and promote vegetation.
• Threats:
  • Sparrow populations are declining due to habitat degradation, urbanization, and changes in agricultural practices. The loss of nesting sites and foraging areas, as well as the decline in insect populations, are major factors.
  • This decline has wide-ranging effects, including potential increases in insect pests and threats to biodiversity.
• Conservation:
  • Efforts include urban greening projects and agroecological practices to create suitable habitats for sparrows.
• Few Common Species Habitat and Distribution in India:

Sparrow Species	Scientific Name	Habitat Preferences	Distribution in India
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Urban and rural areas	Widely distributed across India
Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Passer montanus	Woodlands, parks, and gardens	Found in various regions across India, less common than house sparrows
White-throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	Northern regions, mountainous areas	Mainly in Jammu & Kashmir or Himachal Pradesh
Chestnut-shouldered Petronas	Petronia xanthocollis	Dry forests, scrublands	Inhabit regions like Rajasthan or Gujarat
Rufous Treepie	Dendrocitta vagabunda	Wet regions, forests	Prefers areas such as Assam or West Bengal
Baya Weaver	Ploceus philippinus	Coastal areas, wetlands	Commonly seen in coastal regions like Goa or Kerala

Note

• House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) belongs to the order Passeriformes and the family Passeridae.
  • It is the state bird of Bihar and Delhi and is commonly found due to its proximity to human habitations.
  • Its conservation status is Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Read more: State of India's Birds 2023 Report

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims:

Q1. Which of the following is not a bird? (2022)

(a) Golden Mahseer
(b) Indian Nightjar
(c) Spoonbill
(d) White Ibis

Ans: (a)

Q2. Consider the following: (2018)

1. Birds
2. Dust blowing
3. Rain
4. Dust blowing Wind blowing

Which of the above spread plant diseases?

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ans: (d)