Attachment of Sparrows to Humans

Tanzila Rahman 2024

Tanzila Rahman

Recently a news item published in the London’s ‘Daily Express’ newspaper with a piece of advice asking anyone who sees sparrows twittering in the garden to leave food to help them endure the tough winter weather. Sparrow is a staple of British gardens and do not migrate in winter but stays in the UK despite cold and struggle to find abundant food sources. Sparrow’s population is reportedly declining in England due to less availability of food, climate change impacts and environmental pollution.

Happy Sparrow Couple

Birds including sparrows are an integral part of our ecosystem, contributing to its balance and sustainability. They play crucial roles as pollinators, seed dispersers, pest controllers, and indicators of environmental health. Sparrows hold a special place, not just ecologically but also culturally. 

Sparrows, particularly the house sparrow (Passer domesticus), are small, social birds. They are known for their adaptability to urban and rural settings. 

Sparrows are key players in the food chain. While adults usually eat seeds and grains, they are also known to eat insects, which help with pest control. In fact, they even helped save New York City's trees when they were being destroyed by green inch worms!

Sparrows coexisted with humans for thousands of years. Their close relationship began as humans transitioned to agriculture, around 10,000 years ago. Sparrows adapted to human settlements and started living with humans in close attachment. Their cheerful chirping has made them a familiar presence worldwide, symbolizing home, community, and resilience in many cultures.

Many reputed poets have composed poems appreciating the grace of sparrows. 

Sparrows are frequent visitors to Shakespeare's works and are included in 11 plays and poems. They often act as metaphors for humbleness. Hamlet's Sparrow expresses the fragility and unpredictability of life. 

Culturally, sparrows are symbols of simplicity, humility, and endurance. Their presence is believed to bring blessings and ward off evil spirits. Their ability to navigate challenging environments and adapt to changing circumstances offers hope and reassurance.

Psychologically, sparrows display curiosity, agility, and quick decision-making. 

They are highly observant, assessing their surroundings for food and safety. Despite their small size, they exhibit boldness when defending their nests or territory, showing remarkable tenacity. Their consistent return to familiar habitats highlights their strong memory and attachment to places they consider secure.

The males of the species sing to mark their territory, and their songs all share a common structure. Members of a Canadian sparrow species famous for their jaunty signature song are changing. Bird enthusiasts first recorded the white-throated sparrow's original song, with its distinctive triplet hook, in the 1950s.

In 2015, half of western Canada had converted to the doublet version. In fact, sparrows are very sensitive birds; they adapt to change on their own feel and need.

In Bangladesh, sparrows have long been a familiar sight in villages, towns, and cities. However, in recent years, their numbers have declined significantly due to urbanization. Traditional buildings with modern structures have reduced nesting sites for sparrows. Electromagnetic pollution (mobile Towers, electronic devices, etc.) is also believed to be responsible for disrupting sparrows’ population. This decline poses concerns for biodiversity and the ecosystem balance in Bangladesh, as sparrows contribute to natural pest control and are part of the cultural fabric.

In Bengali literature, sparrows featured as symbols of simplicity and life’s small joys. For instance, in “Charuibhati” (picnic) though centered on community feasts, the sparrow’s name itself reflects an intimate connection with daily village life. It may be mentioned here that Sparrow is called ‘Charui’ in Bengali. Not only people in the UK but Bangladesh people should also take proper care of sparrows by providing them safe and secure abode plus food and water, particularly during the winter season.

In order to raise awareness about their conservation, ‘World Sparrow Day’ is observed every year on March 20.

(Tanzila Rahman is Upazila Agriculture Officer (UAO), Ramu, Cox’s Bazar)