Sparrow decline spells trouble

House sparrows are an indicator of the environmental health of an area, and their disappearance could be linked to a rise in infectious diseases and ecological change, say experts.

These common birds have been edged out of Delhi homes by changes in architecture and agriculture as well as by urban predators like crows and cats,  top ecologists said at the India International Centre here on Tuesday at a public lecture to discuss the mystery of the missing sparrows.

“The sparrows are still there, but changes in our lifestyle, housing architecture, agricultural patterns and increasing urban predators such as crows and cats have forced them out of many areas where they were commonly seen earlier,” bird expert Surya Prakash said.

He added, “The lack of scientific data has also prevented experts from finding their actual status.” However, he agreed that the decline in numbers was a concern as it was a marker of deeper ecological changes in the city.