Study on the Distribution of House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) with Respect to the Availability, Preference, and Occupancy of the Natural Nesting Sites along the Rural, Suburban, and Urban Gradients in Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, India| Chapter 4 | Research Aspects in Biological Science Vol. 8

 Nowadays, human-dependent birds are generally disappearing from densely populated places. One of the frequent urban birds recognised for preferring to dwell close to people is the house sparrow. However, there have been numerous reports of this species going extinct in India. The sparrow population has decreased by 80% in Andhra Pradesh, 20% in Kerala, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, and by 70% to 80% in coastal areas of India, according to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Therefore, the fall in house sparrow populations should be compared to historical trends of human activity. In light of their structural preferences and distribution along rural, suburban, and urban gradients, it is the aim of this study to map out the distribution of the house sparrow population in the Madurai District as well as to identify their natural nesting locations. The 169 research locations in the Madurai District were surveyed using a line-transect approach, and pictures and videos were taken to capture house sparrow nesting activity. According to the statistics, sparrows were discovered in 109 locations, with 62% of them in rural settings and 80% of them in urban areas. The 53 different types of natural nesting locations were divided into three categories: non-cavity type nesting locations in non-building structures, cavity type nesting locations in building structures (NCNB). A total of 1820 natural nests were found, of which 1338 were found in nesting sites of the 19 different types of CB type, 253 in those of the 15 types of CNB type, and 229 in those of the 19 types of NCNB type. The space between wooden joists in buildings, pipe holes in bridges, and electric metre boxes were found to be the most preferred nesting sites in each of the groups (NCNB). The most preferred nesting sites were found to be CB-type nesting sites along the gradients of rural, suburban, and urban areas. There is a strong positive correlation (R = 0.99), between the number of accessible natural nesting sites and the population of house sparrows. House sparrows are opportunistic secondary cavity-nesters, and in the absence of cavities for nesting, they are adaptable in their choice of nesting locations. Therefore, it may be inferred that this species could be preserved in places with a dropping population index by offering suitable nesting grounds.

Author(s) Details:

P. Merlynna Esther Maxmellion,
Department of Zoology, Lady Doak College affiliated to The Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai - 625002, Tamil Nadu, India.

Priyatharsini Rajendran,
Department of Zoology, Lady Doak College, Madurai- 625002, Tamil Nadu, India.

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