Berhampur: With house sparrows missing from most places, villages of Anantei, Lanjia, Baghajhori and Gunthuband near silk city continue to be a safe haven for the birds owing to the efforts of Anchalika Bikash Parishad (ABP), a local organisation that raises awareness about the conservation of house sparrow for the last few years.
ABP has been installing artificial nests in front of houses, providing safe breeding spaces for the birds. “The population of house sparrows in the villages has increased manifold with the installation of artificial nests in the last few years,” said ABP president Sagar Ranjan Prusty. They are also feeding the birds and protecting their chicks with the cooperation of the villagers, he said.
On Thursday, ABP observed World House Sparrow Day in Anantei, the village near Berhampur, where their conservation efforts began in 2018. The event was attended by Berhampur assistant conservator of forests (ACF) Sasmita Biswal and several other officials. To mark the occasion, 15 more artificial nests and feeder bottles were distributed in the village.