Koodugal Trust , a non-governmental organisation, has been distributing nest boxes specially designed for sparrows.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Nest boxes designed to bring back sparrows in north Chennai have been attracting more takers in the past three years.
Koodugal Trust, a voluntary organisation working towards sparrow conservation, has found up to 70% occupancy in nest boxes distributed in northern parts of the city.
Many households are now finding sparrows chirping in the specially-designed nest boxes which they have made their home.
A local estimate of the organisation has found that sparrow count has increased by a minimum of 18,000 in the past three years.
Koodugal is continuing to train schoolchildren to make nest boxes and create sparrow sanctuaries in north Chennai.
D. Ganeshan, convenor, Koodugal-Nest (Network for Environment Sustainability Trust), said nearly 5,000 nest boxes have been provided to students in various areas.
“We have spotted an increase in sparrow population in areas like Thiruvottiyur, Tondiarpet and Royapuram. We observed a trend where sparrows identify a safe nesting place before they populated the nests,” he said.
Sparrow sanctuaries
In a bid to create safe habitats to allow more sparrows to thrive in the urban areas, the trust is identifying favourable sites to establish sparrow sanctuaries. Six such sanctuaries have been created on school premises, including Dindigul.
About 1,000 nest boxes were distributed recently to students in an event held along with Chennai Willingdon Corporate Foundation and JNN Institute of Engineering, Mr. Ganeshan added.