House sparrow population plummets in Thiruvananthapuram, finds survey

A survey reveals a drastic decline in Thiruvananthapuram's house sparrow population, prompting calls for urgent conservation efforts.

A survey of the house sparrow population in Thiruvananthapuram has revealed an alarming decline, raising serious ecological concerns among conservationists.

The city’s transformation into a high-rise urban hub is believed to have driven away the birds from their traditional nesting locations. Environmentalists have proposed incorporating bird-friendly features in upcoming infrastructure projects to revive bird population in the State capital.

The survey by the Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS) was conducted in connection with the World House Sparrow Day on March 20. The total sparrow count this year stands at a worrying 109, a steep drop from 262 recorded in 2025.

The exercise covered key urban and suburban areas including Shanghumughom, Vettucaud, Pettah market, Medical College campus, Sreekaryam and Kazhakuttam.

According to TNHS director K. Jayakumar and research associate Kalesh Sadasivan, not a single sparrow was spotted across these stretches, marking an unprecedented observation.

Traditionally known habitats such as Nedumangad market and Vettucaud community centre, which sustained small but stable sparrow populations for decades, have also fallen silent. The observers noted that these areas, once home to flocks of eight to ten birds, have seen no sightings since 2024.