Once a common sight, flocks of these sociable birds have dramatically thinned.
While sparrows have lived alongside humans for centuries, their numbers have plummeted in part due to the loss of scattered grain that once formed a key part of their diet. “Sparrows have lost their basic food source—grain from farmers—but that’s only part of the story,” said Professor Grzegorz Neubauer of the Museum and Institute of Zoology at the Polish Academy of Sciences.
He noted ongoing urbanization and construction methods that reduce nesting sites also play a role.
Predators like hawks and domestic cats put added pressure on sparrow populations, while environmental pollution, noise, artificial lighting, and vehicle collisions further degrade their habitat.
Consequences for ecosystems
Besides their cultural value, sparrows serve as natural pest control. When their populations dwindle, insect pests can proliferate, forcing farmers to rely more on chemical pesticides.
Neubauer cited mid-20th-century China, where sparrow culling led to a locust plague and famine.
Experts recommend better monitoring of sparrow populations, limiting harmful pesticides, preserving green urban spaces, and installing nesting boxes to protect and restore the species.
Failure to act, they warn, could harm both biodiversity and agriculture.
(jh)
Source: RMF24, PAP