A nesting box built by wildlife enthusiasts in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, March 19: The state government is set to observe World House Sparrow Day tomorrow. But the chirping of these birds can hardly be heard in the city.

Ornithologists say rapid urbanisation has taken its toll on the habitat of sparrows.

“The population of house sparrows has decreased by more than 90 per cent in urban areas including Bhubaneswar. The time has come for the government and civil society to act together for the conservation of house sparrows,” said ornithologist Gauhar Abedin.

Large-scale construction activities, cutting down of trees and use of pesticides have aggravated the problem.

The ever-increasing number of cell phone towers mushrooming in the city is also believed to have affected the reproduction capacity of these birds.

The state forest department is yet to conduct a census of the sparrows in the city and state.

The apparent inaction of the government seems to have spurred the efforts of some wildlife lovers in the city to save the house sparrow. Some of these activists have taken up conservation work in various places of the city including Sikharchandi, Chandrasekharpur, Patia and Indradhanu Market. They have been distributing nesting boxes to house owners and also involving schoolchildren in conservation work.

“After we started providing nesting boxes in some of the areas where the birds were sighted, residents joined us. The government must assist us in taking forward the conservation effort,” said secretary of Open Wildlife Lounge Shakti Nanda. The lounge is an association of wildlife lovers.

Experts said the state government, along with urban local bodies, should incorporate regulatory measures in urban areas, which would improve the habitats of house sparrows.

However, principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), J.D. Sharma said the state government had been trying to involve local communities to conserve the birds.

“It is true that rapid urbanisation has taken a toll on the population of house sparrows. Once guidelines to decrease the radiation level of cell phone towers are enforced, it will save the birds. We have been engaging eco-development committees to save the house sparrows,” said Sharma.