Sparrow man

Birds need you this summer...

Sparrows are one of those birds which are now rarely seen, even though they were once found everywhere. It is disappointing that we humans are neglecting this important fact.

 

Yet, I am pleased that there are people in the world who still care about birds and other gifts of nature as well. I was surprised when I recently read about the “Sparrow Man.”

 

Edwin Joseph is a resident of the South Indian city of Bengaluru. He protects more than a hundred sparrows at his residence. He had nothing to do with a sanctuary. About 10 years ago, he and his wife had noticed a few sparrows in their garden and started providing them with food and water.

 

Slowly, more and more birds arrived and took shelter in the garden. Today, the man wakes up to the sound of the chirping of over two hundred sparrows.

 

I am happy that people are trying to conserve the priceless gifts of the nature to us. I wish that all of us could be like them so that our collective effort could save these innocent animals.

 

The least we could do for them could be keeping food crumbs on our window sills, try to decrease pollution and also spread the word among others so that they can join the cause with enthusiasm.

 

These little tricks might attract those species of living beings who had to give up their homes so that other living beings could get their homes. 

(Published in The Gulf Today on April 2, 2016)