House sparrow population plummets in Thiruvananthapuram, finds survey

A survey of the location sparrow colonisation successful Thiruvananthapuram has revealed an alarming decline, raising superior ecological concerns among conservationists.

The city’s translation into a high-rise municipality hub is believed to person driven distant the birds from their accepted nesting locations. Environmentalists person projected incorporating bird-friendly features successful upcoming infrastructure projects to revive vertebrate colonisation successful the State capital.

At 109

The survey by the Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS) was conducted successful transportation with the World House Sparrow Day connected March 20. The full sparrow number this twelvemonth stands astatine a worrying 109, a steep driblet from 262 recorded successful 2025.

The workout covered cardinal municipality and suburban areas including Shanghumughom, Vettucaud, Pettah market, Medical College campus, Sreekaryam and Kazhakuttam.

According to TNHS manager K. Jayakumar and probe subordinate Kalesh Sadasivan, not a azygous sparrow was spotted crossed these stretches, marking an unprecedented observation.

Traditionally known habitats specified arsenic Nedumangad marketplace and Vettucaud assemblage centre, which sustained tiny but unchangeable sparrow populations for decades, person besides fallen silent. The observers noted that these areas, erstwhile location to flocks of 8 to 10 birds, person seen nary sightings since 2024.

Glimmer of hope

However, the coastal loop offers a glimmer of hope. The surveys recorded astir 30 birds with progressive nesting sites astatine Poonthura. Another TNHS researcher Smrithy Raj documented sparrow groups astatine Beemapally, Pozhiyoor and Vizhinjam. Despite specified observations, the coastal colonisation excessively has sharply declined from astir 200 birds successful 2025 to importantly less this year.

The Connemara market, agelong considered a sparrow stronghold, reported lone 14 birds this twelvemonth compared to 38 past year. TNHS subordinate K.B. Sanjayan attributed the driblet to the ongoing demolition and renovation activities successful the area, which person destroyed nesting spaces.

Although nest boxes installed by the Forest section successful 2022 stay successful the locality, galore are present occupied oregon dominated bylarger bluish stone pigeons, leaving sparrows struggling for survival.

Elsewhere successful the city, including Statue, Thampanoor, Pazhavangadi, Fort country and Chala market, sparrow sightings person been consistently absent successful caller years.

The conservationists constituent to accelerated urbanisation, nonaccomplishment of nesting spaces, scarcity of nutrient and contention from pigeons arsenic superior causes for the colonisation decline. They cautioned that without contiguous enactment specified arsenic installing sparrow-friendly nesting boxes, ensuring nutrient sources and raising nationalist awareness, the remaining populations whitethorn vanish entirely.

The decline, they bemoan, is peculiarly disheartening fixed the bird’s iconic status, erstwhile described by the legendary ornithologist Salim Ali arsenic “undoubtedly our astir acquainted bird.”