The loss of habitat and lack of breeding space has brought down the number of house sparrows in the city, so this year Patna zoo has decided to sell residents "nest boxes" for the little birds.
Last year, the zoo authorities had distributed 200 of such boxes among the residents for free ahead of World Sparrow Day that is observed on March 20. This time whoever wants to provide a breeding space to the birds - vanishing with the absence of ventilators and perches in most modern houses - can get one.
The zoo director, Nand Kishore, said customised nest boxes have been built for the house sparrow, which is also the state's official bird.
"We brought few nest box samples from the Bombay Natural History Society (an organisation working for the conservation of birds) apart from bringing four to five designs from other places this year. Then, zoo workers designed our nest boxes combining the best features of the different designs," said Kishore. "A meeting of the price fixation committee of the forest department would be held under the chairmanship of the principal chief conservator of forests within a fortnight. As soon as the price is fixed, we will start selling the nest boxes."
He said the zoo will propose selling the nest boxes at Rs 150 a piece.
Besides distributing the nest boxes last year, other zoo officials said, 20 such boxes were distributed in 2017 too, but they soon realised it would be impossible to keep on giving out the boxes for free. So, the decision to sell them to the residents in a bid at conservation of the little bird.
Kishore explained how the box would be like.
"We have made the nest boxes out of plywood in the shape of a hut," he said. "The box will have a hole through which sparrows can easily fly inside. Besides, a stick has been placed in the outer area of the nest house for male sparrows to rest. We will paint the boxes green and put the logo of Patna zoo."
A male sparrow guards the female when she lays eggs. The male sparrows take the responsibility to feed the fledglings (young birds), and during this period they stay out of the nest.
Wildlife experts, who say the number of house sparrows has dwindled in the city over the past few years because of their loss of habitat and breeding space, have hailed the move of the zoo authorities.
Samir Kumar Sinha, the regional head of Wildlife Trust of India, their efforts will help provide a breeding space to sparrows but at the same time, stressed that the initiative would work only if nests are hung in the proper place.
"It's definitely a good initiative for the conservation of sparrows but people have to be very careful while hanging the nests. They should be hung where residents hear the chirping of sparrows - if there isn't any sparrow around, a nest box will not serve the purpose," Sinha said. "It has to be seen that there are trees around so that sparrows can rest there after the breeding season. Sparrows and other birds don't need homes for shelter like human beings. They use it only to lay their eggs and to feed the fledglings. So even if house sparrows are not spotted in the nest soon after it has been hung, one should not be disappointed. Residents should wait for the next season as the bird might come to the nest during that period."
He said sparrows usually breed between March and August.
In the run-up to World Sparrow Day on Monday, the zoo distributed pamphlets among school students with information such as keeping a bowl of water on roofs and spreading grains to feed sparrows.
In the photography contest organised by zoo, Nand Kishore said: "So far around 16,000 people have visited our Facebook site and around 700 people have sent their pictures. We have got pictures of a sparrow couple, a sparrow feeding its young. The results will be announced in a day or two. Forty to 50 best pictures will be selected."
