World Sparrow Day
March 20, 2017
World Sparrow Day is celebrated around the world on March 20 every year. The day is observed to raise awareness of the house sparrow and other common birds which are in danger due to urbanisation.
It is an international event initiated by the Nature Forever Society of India in association with the Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and various other national and international organisations across the world.
Mohammed Dilawar, President, Nature Forever Society (NFS), an Indian conservationist of house sparrows and flora and fauna found in human habitats. He initiated the first World Sparrow Day in 2009. Mohammed Dilawar was named as one of the “Heroes of the Environment” in 2008 by Time magazine in their list of the 30 most influential Environmentalists in the world.
The house sparrow is closely associated with humans. They are believed to have become associated with humans around 10,000 years ago. Unfortunately the populations have been declining in many parts of the world due to various reasons.
Shortage of nesting sites due to changes in urban building design, lack of insect food for the young sparrows, use of pesticides in agricultural produce, cell phone radiation, unleaded petrol which releases toxic compounds such as methyl nitrite etc., are some of the reasons.
World Sparrow Day is celebrated in more than 30 countries across the world.
Source: www.en.wikipedia.org
Image Credit: www. sayingpic.blogspot.in
