World Sparrow Day

• 20 Mar 2025

On 20th March, World Sparrow Day, is observed annually to raise awareness about the declining sparrow population due to urbanization, pollution, and habitat loss while promoting conservation efforts worldwide.

• Established in 2010 by the Nature Forever organization, World Sparrow Day is now observed in over 50 countries, highlighting the urgency of protecting these birds.
• Sparrows play a crucial ecological role in controlling insect populations, aiding pollination, and dispersing seeds, benefiting both urban and rural environments.
• A 2018 Royal Society of London report traces the relationship between humans and sparrows back 11,000 years, emphasizing their historical presence in human settlements.
• The use of unleaded petrol and pesticides has significantly impacted sparrows' food supply by reducing insect populations, their primary food source.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change encourages small conservation actions like planting greenery, reducing pesticide use, and creating nesting spaces.
• Grassroots initiatives such as Koodugal Trust in Chennai have built over 10,000 sparrow nests between 2020 and 2024, helping revive local sparrow populations.
• In Mysuru, the "Early Bird" campaign educates children on sparrow conservation through birdwatching, community engagement, and awareness programs.