Patna: The department of environment and forests observed World Sparrow Day in Patna on Tuesday. House sparrow, locally known as Goraya, was declared as the state bird of Bihar in 2013.

The bird has been an indicator of environmental health but due to rapid urbanization, habitat destruction and unchecked use of harmful chemicals in agriculture, its population is rapidly declining in both rural and urban settings of the state.

Speaking on the occasion, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who is also the state environment minister, said: "The objective of the celebration is to arouse compassion and to generate awareness among people and children for the conservation of our state bird."

Sanjay Kumar, an Indian Information Service officer who is also a sparrow conservationist since 11 years, said: "Bird conservation is not a hobby, it's a part of my life. The chirping of Goraya gives me immense pleasure."

The bird comes in the least concern conservation category under the red list of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Goraya is also culturally prominent in Bihar; many people had lived a part of their childhood with the chirping of the bird.

"The rationale of celebrating World Sparrow Day is not only to mark the day but also to attract the attention of the state government to take urgent steps for the conservation of urban biodiversity in general and conservation of house sparrows in particular," said a bird conservationist in Patna.

Forest and environment secretary Tripurari Sharan, Bharti Jyoti and D.K. Shukla were other speakers on the occasion.