Artificial nests to help sparrows ‘grow’ in Maharashtra

The Rs 24-lakh breeding project is expected to be completed in two years with construction of over 1,000 ‘nest boxes’. In 2017, these nests will be set up in Thane, Kalyan, Alibaug, Mahad and Shriwardhan, and the next year in areas such as Vasai, Shahpur, Goregaon, Ulhasnagar, Ambarnath.

Officials claimed that a pilot study conducted in Pune revealed an occupancy of up to 90 per cent at all the sites where the nests were set up. “Essentially, the material will be eco-friendly and the nest boxes created will be out in areas where there is minimal risk of predation. We will also avoid direct exposure to the sun and rain,” said a forest officer.

Sunil Limaye, chief conservator of forest (territorial), said the objectives of the project include important ornithological and ecological aspects to better understand the problems leading to house sparrow decline and offer breeding sites.

“Ela Foundation, an NGO, has the necessary ornithological expertise to carry out this important project and hence will help the department. Sparrows are declared to be a fast depleting species and there is an urgent need to conserve them,” Limaye added.