World Sparrow Day 2025

Small creature having ecological importance

To celebrate World Sparrow Day on March 20, people are sensitised to install bird feeders, create nesting spaces, and participate in awareness programs to mobilize community involvement. Events are being organized across various cities, urging citizens to take pride in protecting this beloved species.

The 2025 celebration is not merely a reminder of what has been lost but also a call to action: encouraging collective responsibility for the future of sparrows. Each small act contributes to the larger goal of restoring the ecological balance that sparrows help maintain.

In conclusion, World Sparrow Day serves as a significant call for awareness and action, where the sentiment of love and responsibility towards nature is paramount. Together, through music, community events, and educational discussions, we can ensure that the cheerful chirps of sparrows continue to resonate in our surroundings, symbolizing both connection and biodiversity as we strive to protect these charming birds for generations to come.

Sparrows, once a familiar part of our everyday lives, are now facing a decline. Urbanization, the loss of green spaces, pesticide use, lack of nesting sites, and competition from invasive species have pushed these small birds out of their homes.

World Sparrow Day annually serves as a reminder of their vital role in maintaining ecological balance and the urgent need to protect urban biodiversity.

A widespread species and one of the most commonly seen birds in Nepal. These small but lovely birds are called Bhangraa in Nepali. In this species the males can be distinguished from the females as they have a black throat and a grey crown. So as House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) are common sparrows habit in Nepal.

The house sparrow is strongly associated with human habitation, and can live in urban or rural settings. Though found in widely varied habitats and climates, it typically avoids extensive woodlands, grasslands, polar regions, and hot, dry deserts far away from human development. For sustenance, the house sparrow routinely feeds at home and public bird feeding stations, but naturally feeds on the seeds of grains, flowering plants and weeds. However, it is an opportunistic, omnivorous eater, and commonly catches insects, their larvae, caterpillars, invertebrates and many other natural foods.

This bird is seen in and around human habitation even these days. These are common in the Kathmandu Valley residences where houses were built keeping space for Sparrows to have nests. But in the modern buildings such spaces are not provisioned.

Because of its numbers, ubiquity, and association with human settlements, the house sparrow is culturally prominent. It is extensively, and usually unsuccessfully, persecuted as an agricultural pest. It has also often been kept as a pet, as well as being a food item and a symbol of lust, sexual potency, commonness, and vulgarity. Though it is widespread and abundant, its numbers have declined in some areas. The animal’s conservation status is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List. Sparrows may be small, but their role in maintaining ecological balance is crucial. They behave as natural pest control as they feed on insects, helping in pest regulation. They help pollination and seed dispersal as their movement aids in the growth of various plants. Likewise, their presence contributes to a healthier ecosystem in both urban and rural areas.

The steady decline in sparrow numbers is due to multiple environmental and human-induced factors. Loss of natural nesting spaces due to modern buildings where there is no space to sparrows to nestle. Emission of toxic compounds affecting insect populations, reducing sparrow food sources. Decline in insect numbers, affecting sparrow diet. Increased presence of crows and domestic cats preying on sparrows. Fewer trees and plants impact nesting and food availability.

However, in recent years, the population of house sparrows has been declining across both urban and rural landscapes. This decline serves as a crucial indicator of environmental degradation, highlighting potential risks to human health and well-being. One major concern is the rising levels of microwave radiation and other environmental changes that may be contributing to the dwindling numbers of these birds. Understanding what is affecting their survival can offer valuable insights into broader ecological impacts, including those on human life.

As a representative of many common bird species, the house sparrow plays a significant role in maintaining biodiversity. Protecting its habitat not only helps conserve sparrows but also safeguards numerous other species that share the same environment.

World Sparrow Day, this year celebrated with the theme, ”I Love Sparrows,” encourages people to care for these little birds and take simple steps like planting trees, providing food, and creating safe nesting spaces. By working together, we can help bring back sparrows and ensure they continue to be a part of our lives.