Tamil Nadu students to build nest boxes for sparrows in 50 government schools

With sparrow populations dwindling in urban areas due to loss of nesting spaces, a voluntary organisation in Tamil Nadu is set to engage students in conservation efforts. The Koodugal Trust, which works on sparrow conservation, will conduct environment awareness and nest-box-making workshops in 50 government schools across 10 districts from September.

The initiative, undertaken in partnership with the School Education Department, aims to sensitise children about the importance of sparrows and enable them to create safe nesting spaces. As part of the workshops, students will learn about sparrows' habitat and the challenges they face in urban environments. A key component will be hands-on sessions where students make nest boxes, turning conservation awareness into a community activity they can take back to their neighbourhoods.

This is the first time the trust has obtained approval to hold such workshops in government schools, though it has reached out to children in about 80 private schools across the State in the past five years. The workshops will be held in districts including Erode, Coimbatore, Ranipet, Chennai, and Krishnagiri.

“Conserving these tiny birds is important as they help maintain the natural balance of the ecosystem. We have distributed about 15,000 nest boxes in various parts of the State in the past five years,” said D. Ganeshan, convenor of Koodugal Trust.

The trust's local estimate indicates that the house sparrow population has increased by 25% in north Chennai in the past five years. Sparrows have also been spotted in areas such as Velachery, Perumbakkam, and Tambaram, attributed to sustained nest-box seeding activities.

Students will also be encouraged to participate in a sparrow census. The trust plans to launch a mobile application next month that will enable users to record bird calls and images, identify birds, and build a record of sightings. The application would help collate data on sparrow populations, Mr. Ganeshan added.

The initiative underscores the role of schools in fostering environmental stewardship among young people, while addressing the broader issue of urban biodiversity loss. By equipping students with practical skills, the programme aims to create lasting awareness and action for sparrow conservation across Tamil Nadu.