KARACHI: The Sindh wildlife authorities’ initiative ‘Let’s count the sparrows’ received a very encouraging response from across the city on Sunday with several people sharing pictures and videos of the bird’s sightings of the day on social media platforms.

The first of its kind in Karachi and the country, the campaign was held in connection with World Sparrow Day to be observed on March 20. It’s designated to raise awareness about sparrow conservation and protection, as their numbers are declining globally.

“The response is heartening. We are glad to see people taking interest in these little birds that have been a part of each and every household of Karachi for a long time,” Sindh Wildlife Conservator Javed Ahmed Mahar said.

He added that the drive’s findings would be released on March 20 at a programme.

This year, he pointed out, the campaign focused only on house sparrows.

Findings from the drive will be released on Wednesday to mark World Sparrow Day

“Unlike three other local sparrow species of Sindh that prefer to live in forests, this one is used to human presence and adapted to the changes taking place on account of urbanisation,” Mr Mahar explained.

Sharing their feedback on the drive, participants said it was long overdue and that the wildlife authorities should hold more such programmes that could inculcate a sense of coexistence among people and become more caring towards the space and environment they shared with animals.

“It’s great that the department thought of this campaign. People have generally forgotten about these little birds that have been serving us in so many ways for a long time,” social activist and wildlife photographer Salman Baloch said, adding that house sparrows played an important role in the ecosystem by controlling pests and insects.

Such initiatives, he noted, were important, especially for a city like Karachi that had turned into a concrete jungle, one major reason for a steep decline in birds’ population in the city.

“The other factor is rampant use of pesticides in agriculture,” he said, while emphasising the need for local studies to assess the level of threats birds faced in the environment.

According to officials, the areas where the sparrows were recorded during the drive included Memon Goth of Malir town and adjoining areas, Gadap Town, Bahria Town, Steel Town, Hill Park, Kidney Hills, Saddar, Defense, Clifton, Lyari, Korangi, Burns Road, Pakistan Chowk, NED University and Karachi University.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2024