Sparrows, everyone should know, but if you ask if you have seen a living bird, then the younger friends may not really have this experience, because now the opportunity to see this kind of bird in the city is becoming less and less.
As urbanization progresses faster and faster, the ecological environment in the living places has also undergone drastic changes, which has affected the survival of many animals. Sparrows, on the other hand, are the birds that are most affected by this.
You may often see some small and cute birds in the city, with brown feathers, a chestnut patch on their head, and black accents on their cheeks. They chirp happily and sometimes jump on the streets, parks or rooftops.
That's right, this is the sparrow, a bird that is closely related to our daily lives. Despite their small size, they have an attractive lifestyle and unique features, so let's uncover them.
Sparrows are omnivorous birds that eat a wide variety of seeds, fruits, insects, and even human leftovers. This means that sparrows can find food to suit their tastes in a variety of environments.
They also love to travel in groups, and in autumn and winter, you may see them foraging in groups and finding warm places to escape the cold.
Sparrows also reproduce at an astonishing rate, hatching 3-5 litters in a year, and each nest can hatch 5-6 baby sparrows. Their homes are usually made of grass stems, dead branches, etc., and their nests are preferred to be found in tree hollows, hollow valleys, and even on the roofs of buildings.
Sparrows are a group of elves that are close to humans, they often haunt human habited places, they are lively and cute, and have a cheerful personality, but they are always on high alert and full of curiosity about everything around them. You'll hear them make a variety of sounds, sometimes chirping, sometimes chirping.
While flying, they will swing their wings and sometimes even jump or run. What is particularly interesting is that sparrows like to jump in unison when they move on the ground, which is their unique walking style.
Although they are not very fast, they are agile and agile in their flight movements, and are always able to display a variety of unique skills in the air.
Sparrows are not what many people think, they are just a common bird, and their presence can reflect and affect many problems in the environment.
Their number and distribution are a reflection of the surrounding environment. During the breeding season, sparrows feed on insects, providing a natural controller for pests in our fields.
In autumn and winter, they eat the seeds of weeds, which plays a certain role in weeding. In the city, sparrows also help us clean up pests from sidewalks, gardens and parks, helping to protect the city's environment.
In today's cities, sparrows are becoming more and more difficult to find. Maybe it's been a long time since you've heard that familiar chirp, and you've rarely had the chance to witness a little sparrow leaping happily around you. You may wonder what is causing them to decrease?
In fact, the decline of sparrows is not an isolated phenomenon, but a global problem. Over the past 40 years, sparrow populations have experienced alarming declines across the globe, halving in some places, according to research by some bird conservation groups.
The reasons for the decline of sparrows may include the following:
Overuse of pesticides and herbicides
The main food of sparrows consists of grains, seeds and insects, and pesticides and herbicides can directly or indirectly affect these foods**.
Pesticides not only kill sparrows' natural predators, such as birds of prey and small predators, but also have negative effects on sparrows' food, such as insects and weeds.
Herbicides destroy the habitat of sparrows, such as grass on the side of the road in the field. These chemicals also enter the sparrow's body through the food chain, causing poisoning, sterility, and death.
Urbanization and environmental pollution
The expansion of cities and the increase in population have severely squeezed and destroyed the living space of sparrows. High-rise buildings, roads, and transportation reduce sparrows' nesting and foraging options, as well as increase noise and light pollution.
Garbage, wastewater, and exhaust gases in cities cause contamination of sparrows' food and water sources, negatively impacting sparrows' breathing and health.
Human interference and hunting
Sparrows are a type of bird that likes to live in groups and socialize, but their chirps and behavior have caused some people to be dissatisfied. Some people believe that sparrows harm crops, spread disease, and pollute the environment, so they resort to a variety of means to drive and eradicate sparrows, including destroying nests, setting traps, and using poison bait and shotguns. Still others use sparrows as food or toys, catching and selling them.
The reduction of sparrows has made our cities quieter and quieter, but this is not a good thing. As an important ecological indicator species, the decline of sparrows will not only affect biodiversity, but also reflect the ecological crisis of humans.
Although they are small in size, sparrows play a very important role in nature and have a profound impact on our lives and environment.
They are not ordinary, but have a unique and irreplaceable value. Let's take a look at what makes sparrows unique.
First and foremost, sparrows are excellent pest controllers. Their diet includes a lot of grains, seeds, and insects, especially during the breeding period, when sparrows hunt a lot of insects in order to provide enough protein for their young.
Many of these insects are pests of agriculture and forestry, such as aphids, locusts, borers, and various moths, which cause huge economic losses to crops and trees. By preying on these pests, sparrows effectively control the number of pests, protect agricultural and forestry resources, and reduce dependence on pesticides, helping to maintain ecological balance.
Secondly,Sparrows are indispensable pollinators and seed spreaders. In addition to eating insects, sparrows also enjoy the nectar, pollen, and fruits of various plants. Some plants are important cash crops for humans, including fruits, vegetables and oil crops, while others are wild plants such as dandelions, lilacs and locust trees.
When sparrows eat nectar and pollen, they spread pollen to other flowers, promoting plant reproduction and diversity. And when they eat the fruit, they also take the seeds elsewhere, promoting the spread and renewal of the plant.
Finally, the sparrow is a beautiful bird that adds a lot of fun and color to our lives. They like to live in groups and interact, and their attention-grabbing sounds and behaviors often attract attention.
Sparrows are active in human settlements, and are lively and close to people, alert but also very curious. They are agile, adaptable in different environments, and can even interact with humans. The colorful expressions and movements of sparrows often bring us surprises and laughter.
Although we rarely eat sparrow meat, the annual decline of sparrows is still a matter of concern. We can't help but wonder, what exactly did these little birds go?
The decline of sparrows is not just a decline in bird populations, but a warning to our environment and ecosystems. Their gradual disappearance reflects a number of problems, including the overuse of pesticides in agricultural practices, habitat destruction by urbanization, and human incomprehension and interference.
The solution to these problems is not only related to the survival of sparrows, but also to the health of our entire ecosystem.
The disappearance of the sparrow reminds us that, as inhabitants of the planet, we cohabit this fragile land with other living beings. Protecting sparrows and maintaining ecological balance is not only for the survival of one bird, but also for the protection of our common home.
Let us work together to reserve a piece of heaven and earth for the existence of every life on this planet, so that sparrows also have their own habitat.