The House Sparrow: Between History And Curiosity
The curiosity towards the house sparrow is much more than we can think. World Sparrow Day is celebrated around the world on March 20 to remember the importance of this little bird that goes unnoticed but could be in serious danger in some ecosystems.
The story of the sparrow
Among the curiosities about the house sparrow ( Passer domesticus Linnaeus ) its particular relationship with man stands out. It was discovered that these animals already 11,000 years ago had adapted to live with humans in areas where they practiced agriculture. This makes us think that their expansion is closely linked to man.
It is interesting to know that in ancient Greece the house sparrow was considered the symbol of Aphrodite and associated with desire and lust. However, this animal has not always been frowned upon.
In Ancient Egypt it was thought to represent negative aspects such as inferiority and disease, while in Mao Tze-tung’s China it was seen as a plague.
A mistake that has cost China dearly: the proliferation of grasshoppers, caused among other things by the extermination of this animal, was one of the causes of the great famine that caused millions of deaths.
Curiosity and behavior
Among the curiosities about the house sparrow, some of its behaviors that surprise us stand out. For example, the importance these animals give to the presence or absence of feathers in their nest. Probably this attention is related to the laying of the eggs and the selection of the males by the females.
Urban life is not always pleasant for house sparrows. In fact, the sparrows living in cities start their activity earlier than the sparrows living in rural areas. This fact is probably linked to the rhythm of life in the cities that affects the life of these birds.
Is the house sparrow disappearing?
The house sparrow is not as common a bird as it may seem. Several studies document its disappearance in Europe, especially in countries such as the United Kingdom. In England, about 10 million individuals have disappeared in the last three decades and in Spain, in the last ten years, the population has shrunk by 15%.
Although it may appear that there are many sparrows, their population is decreasing in many cities. The causes are different. The presence of invasive alien species, the increase in cats and the absence of green areas are some of the reasons behind their disappearance in cities.
The house sparrow is an indicator of the conservation status of natural and urban ecosystems. Protecting it from extinction and studying it allows us to understand the damage we are doing to nature.
