NGO initiates move to save sparrows in city

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The Times Of Navi Mumbai . Saturday, October 30, 2010 . News . Page 6

NGO initiates move to save sparrows in city

Report By : George Mendonca

Appeals To Schools And Civic Bodies To Set Up Homes For The Neglected Birds

Avian saviour: President of PAWS,
Sunish Subramanian Kunju presenting
My Sparrow Home' model to actor Pooja Bhatt

Navi Mumbai: Plant and Animals Welfare Society (PAWS) Mumbai, a NGO with a vision of preserving the plant and animal life and working for a cause with social commitment has started a mission to save the sparrows in the city. PAWS-Mumbai has come up with an idea of a 'My Sparrow Home' as a remedy to the depleting number of sparrows in the city, which is feared to be on the verge of extinction.


PAWS-Mumbai has announced free distribution of 'Sparrow Houses' across the city's schools and also approached the municipal corporations urging to avail the facility by installing sparrow houses in civic gardens. The President of PAWS-Mumbai, Sunish Subramanian Kunju says, "Recently all major developing cities witnessed decline in the population of sparrows mainly due to the rapid construction activities.

Every citizen seems to be least bothered about this species whose chirping was once a ubiquitous morning call. But today it is rarely seen in our backyards or we only read about them in poems. PAWS-Mumbai, which is a non-profit organization run mainly by youngsters has now come forward with a helping hand to the bird species by giving them an artificial nest. 

We have named it as 'My Sparrow Home' that means a small wooden box. It not only gives the birds a safe place to live in but also gives them their own address. It has been built keeping in mind the size of a sparrow and ensures that no predator is able to enter the box. They are designed to protect them against heavy rain and scorching heat."

Sunish added, "If anyone wishes to install 'My Sparrow Home' in their balconies or backyard, they can order it by making a nominal contribution to this conservation mission. Your contribution will help in creating awareness about the problems which is being face by the gullible sparrows. 

For making one Sparrow Home, it costs around Rs 250 and it is sold at the same price without earning any profit. We have given order to a Pune-based workshop for making these sparrow homes. Initially, we ordered only 100 sparrow homes and shall order more depending on the response from bird lovers."

Sunish concluded, "We shall not charge even a single penny from schools across the city if they are interested in installing these sparrow homes in their school premises. The free of cost facility can also be availed by civic bodies for installing them in their gardens. With a little support from every helping hand, the efforts taken by PAWS-Mumbai to prevent the extinction of the sparrows can brought into reality. 

For details, citizens can contact PAWS on 022- 25968313/ 9833480388/ 9892179542 or e-mail at mysparrowhome@ gmail.com

Web Link of article : 
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/index.aspxPage=article&sectname=CITY%20-%20Briefs&sectid=35&contentid=2010103020101102151646659a9a94051

A "Chirpy" Movement

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Thane Plus . Friday, October 29, 2010 . Page VI

Report By : Vaidehi Venkatraman

The Erection Of Several Buildings Has Led To The Decline Of The Sparrow Specie. An NGO Has Started 'My Sparrow Home' To Help The Declining Species To Find An Abode

The music of chirping of sparrows was a wake up call for many Thaneites once upon a time. Amidst the hussle and bussle of development and urbanisation, many buildings have come up which have led to the decline in the population of sparrows. Their nests have been destroyed for new urban projects to come up.

Plant and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) Mumbai, a non governmental organisation (NGO) has initiated a concept called 'My Sparrow Home' wherein the youths in the NGO have designed wooden nests for sparrows and are encouraging people to join the movement so that the chirping of sparrows are heard again in the city. 

Out of approximately 40 calls made by people to own one sparrow home, about 20 calls have been by people from Thane."The sparrow population has declined to a great extent and we as a society need to help increase it. The structures of new buildings are such that sparrows cannot build their nests in them. 

The holes provided in these buildings are so big that the tiny sparrow finds it difficult to reside in it after building its nest. Big birds like pigeons eat up these small birds and destroy their nests in order to build their own nests," said Sunish Subramanian, founder and secretary of PAWS-Mumbai. 

He added that we are encouraging people to come forward and participate in this movement of owning one sparrow home at least. "They can contribute their bit to an increase in the sparrow population," he said.Thaneites have been making calls to buy sparrow homes and place them in their societies, balconies or backyards. 

Stella Kuntu, a senior citizen and a tuition teacher from Brahmand is expecting her sparrow home sometime next week. She said, "I love animals and birds. It is a good thing that sparrow homes can help increase the population of this specie. When I shifted to Brahmand, there were many sparrows. 

Today, the situation has completely changed and I hardly see any sparrows around. I have a small terrace where I am planning to keep my sparrow home." She added that I need not take the responsibility of taking care of them because a sparrow home serves all their needs. 

Subramaniam said, "All they need is a nest and they can take care of themselves. We need not even treat them like our pets. For those who do not like keeping pets at home or taking up the responsibility of maintaining a pet need not worry. The sparrow home is an artificial nest which will serve as their home. These nests are small enough only for sparrows to enter and dwell."

He added that they do not make the nests by cutting trees. They simply utilize used wooden planks to design artificial nests for the sparrows. "We are also handing out appreciation certificates for people coming forward to own a sparrow home. 

We are providing these nests for free to corporation gardens, schools or colleges. However, we charge a very reasonable amount to housing societies or individual residents of the city."The NGO has also started 'My Sparrow Home' communities on social networking websites like Twitter, Facebook and Orkut to spread awareness regarding the same.For more information or to own a sparrow home email mysparrowhome@gmail.com

All they need is a nest and they can take care of themselves. The sparrow home is an artificial nest which will serve as their home

 — Sunish Subramaniam founder & secretary of PAWS-Mumbai


Web Link : 
http://mumbaimirror.com/article/35/201010292010102911412559052a508ec/A-%E2%80%98chirpy%E2%80%99-movement.html

Together we can and will make a difference

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Newsband .  Navi Mumbai . Thursday, 28 October 2010 . Page 5
Together we can and will make a difference 

Report by Pratibha Yadav

My Sparrow Home, City's Sparrows will soon get their own address

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My Sparrow Home, City's Sparrows will soon get their own address

Planet Powai . 24 October - 30 October '10 . Page 2

Report By : Pramod Chavan  

Recently all major developing cities witness the decline in the count of Sparrow population. Due to rapid construction of buildings, malls, Skyscrapers we replaced their next and made our artificial world of beautiful homes and shopping centers for us. The voice of a sparrow, this little chirping bird was once a morning call for all of us, but now it rarely seen in our backyard or we only read about it in poems.

But now a non-profit organisation “Plant & Animals Welfare Society Mumbai” run by youths came forward with a helping hand by giving them a artificial nest, a box which is made up of wood, which not only given them a safe place to live but also given them their own address too that is “My Sparrow Home” in city of Mumbai.

During recent investigation PAWS-Mumbai exposed that how sparrows are been openly sold in the Crawford Market which is India's largest illegal animal selling market. As per the information it is been used by hakims who say that they prepare medicines to enhance sexual power and also for meat purposes too.

As per PAWS-Mumbai's view it may also be called a side effect of these changes for their disappearance from nature's bounty. They thrive to not defy the change, but to take measures against the side effects of the change. To protect the unprotected, to protected the sidelined. They take this opportunity to make the days better for one of our unheeded friends, the Sparrow.

My Sparrow Home is a mission to save this chirping beauty which is an initiative by this organization. You can install it near your garden, balcony or windows considering the population of sparrow in that area. Do not expect that sparrows will build their nest immediately. Once they visit the shelter a couple of times and feel safe, they will build their nest there.

While talking to PP, Member of Parliament Sanjay Patil said, “Today's youths are very much considerate about nature and environment and when I came to know about “My Sparrow Home” a project to save the declining sparrow population and it could be a good gifting idea which one can give to their loved ones because we can take care of both “loved one and also nature” too. So, I myself gifted the lovely sparrow box to my wife Pallavi, who loves birds very much on her recent birthday.”

If anyone wishes to have the 'My Sparrow Home' in your balcony or backyard can order it by making a nominal contribution to this mission. Your contribution will help them in creating awareness about the problems which is being face by sparrows. With a little support from you they will be able to increase the scale of their efforts.

Please get in touch with them by contacting them on 25968313, e-mail at mysparrowhome@gmail.com or visit them at www.pawsmumbai.org and you can also follow “My Sparrow Home” at community site's like Facebook, Orkut & Twitter.

Activists provide spl homes for sparrows

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DNA . Thane . Saturday, October 23, 2010. Page 8

Activists provide spl homes for sparrows