"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."
- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."
- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
23 Jul 2023
In a world where urbanization and concrete structures are taking over, the house sparrow population has been rapidly declining. However, in Sambalpur, Odisha, one man is making a difference. Subrat Nath, an engineer and nature lover, has managed to attract sparrows to his balcony by putting up earthen nests and hanging paddy stalks.
After seeing success in attracting sparrows to his own balcony, Nath began gifting earthen bird nests to locals to encourage community-level sparrow conservation. He has already gifted around 100 nests to people. Nath believes that the decline in sparrow populations is not solely due to the installation of mobile towers, but also due to the high mortality rate of sparrow hatchlings caused by a lack of food sources in both urban and rural areas.
To combat this, Nath has reduced concrete structures around sparrow nesting areas and put up more plants to increase the infestation of worms. Nath’s efforts have shown that with awareness and effort, it is possible to make surroundings safe and habitable for sparrows.
Nath’s passion for wildlife photography, horticulture, and his work as an RJ with All India Radio have all contributed to his success in sparrow conservation. Nath’s efforts serve as an inspiration to others to take action and do their part to restore the declining house sparrow population.
