How frequently do you see sparrows these days ? It's not that they are totally disappeared. But if you recall the days around a decade back, you might remember them sitting on electricity poles in large number or hopping on the ground searching for food. These scenes have become rare these days.

No wonder they are predicted to reduce in number by 80% by year 2020, and by 90% by year 2050. That means if we see 10 sparrows today, we will get to see only one in year 2050 !
According to Environment ministry, there are currently 1800,0000 sparrows in Japan. If we check the count back in decade of 1960, the current number is observed to be already reduced in proportion of 10:1.
A study by Rikkyou University Science Dept shows that this downfall has been maximum in the span of last 20 years (reduced by at least half in last 20 years).

Environment Ministry has announced that starting from April, they will be collecting reports of sighting sparrows.

So, the question arises that why ever there is such a huge downfall in number of these birds..?

In general it can be attributed to changed environment. In particular, following reasons can be given:
1) As wooden houses are decreasing, it's hard for sparrows to prepare nests in places like gaps in buildings or tiled roofs.
2) Due to increasing use of machines like Combine Harvester in fields, there is less crop falling around on grounds, for sparrows to eat.
3) Vacant lands or unpaved trails are reducing. Hence it's hard for sparrows to find their food like tree seeds.
4) In urban areas, vacant lands or grasslands are reducing.
5) Reduced areas of rice paddies due to reduction program.

But environment change does not seem to be the sole cause. In newspaper in Hokkaido, there was a news that sparrows suddenly disappeared from everywhere in Hokkaido in year 2006. Though it was weird, it seems that sparrows are reducing not only in Japan but worldwide.

There are other opinions about causes, like contagious diseases etc.

On one hand, sparrows may be causing nuisance to farmers by eating ready rice in fields, but on other hand they also prove helpful by eating vermin and seeds of weeds. Thus it's an interdependent relation.

Looking at current number of sparrows, one may not feel the need to worry. But if they keep on reducing at this rate, there is a fear that they may become extinct. Hence it's necessary to find out the root causes of reduction as early as possible.

Translated by: Ms. Gokhale Pallavi from Pune