AN UPDATE ON THE CURRENT STATUS OF HOUSE SPARROW, PASSER DOMESTICUS: A BIRD WITH UNCERTAIN FUTURE

The house sparrow, commonly called goraiya, is a tiny brown bird with black streaks running down its back that is frequently seen in metropolitan settings. Due to their adaption to human settlements, they have spread over the world from their Middle Eastern origins. Nonetheless, their numbers have drastically decreased globally, especially in metropolitan suburbs. The sparrow population in India has plummeted, with declines of up to 70% in some locations. An ornithological survey conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) unveiled a drastic decline of 80% in Andhra Pradesh alone, 20% in Kerala, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, and followed by 70-80% in coastal regions. House sparrow populations in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttarakhand are declining due to environmental stressors, vegetation, and transition from automobiles to horse-drawn transportation. Reproductive potential is influenced by insectivorous food availability, while electromagnetic radiation and power lines pose health deterioration and microwave sickness. Having status of least concern in IUCN, house sparrow is still experiencing a rapid decline in its population at global scale. To protect sparrow populations several national measures and conservation regulations are being implemented. House sparrows have been designated as the State Bird of Delhi and the State Bird of Bihar, making India the largest sparrow conservation initiative. The current review seeks suggestions for providing alternative nesting sites for House Sparrows, as this could potentially restore them to our lives and allow future generations to enjoy these tiny, singing birds in their homes.