March 20th is the world sparrow day. Looking back on the connection between disappearing sparrows and EMF Radiation (wireless/cell tower radiation).

The figures are grim

A survey of sparrow population in 2010 in coastal Kerala (India), one of the greenest states in India, states that the number of sparrows in the state has gone down by 80%.
Sparrow numbers have fallen by 60% in London and they are practically non-existent in the city.
Additionally, Spain registered a 70% fall in the number of house sparrows between 1998-2008.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) school of life-sciences estimates 50% fall in sparrow population in India. It also states the highest severity of the fall in Andhra Pradesh, where the sparrow population has gone down by 80%.
In 2002, the sparrows was included by the IUCN in its Red Data List of threatened species along side snow leopard, tiger and red panda.

Dogs and sparrows are synanthropic. They have a ecological dependence on humans. Domestic sparrow populations in cities are estimated to have fallen by 75% in the last 23 years (1994-2017). This coincides with emergence of wireless technology and telecommunication. However, air pollution, lack of nesting grounds, fall in the numbers of feed (small insects), absence of green cover and proliferation of wireless technologies are disrupting the small lives of these chirpy merry-makers – pushing them to extinction (Refer to  Alfonso Balmori and Enrique Murgui)

The key factors linking wireless radiation and the fall in number of sparrows

1. The navigation skills of birds and the earth magnetism are correlated. These induce large distance migrations and return, or short distance localized flights. However, interposing another magnetic grid over the earth’s magnetic grid (such as the one that wireless telecommunication towers create) risks the navigation skills of these birds and lead them astray from their colonies.

2. Till the turn of the century, sparrows have monopolized roof tops as their breeding and nesting grounds. However, this was disrupted by telecom towers in the last 2 decades. Long-term exposure to EMF Radiation at close ranges has damaging effects on the nervous system and immune system of sparrows.

3. Sparrows have thin exo-skeletons. Therefore, the effect of medium power wireless radiation on their bodies is significantly higher. Especially because these birds co-habit the same roof tops with the mobile masts. Continuous exposure to EMF radiation affects the nervous system and navigational skills making them incapable for navigation and foraging.

4. Nesting grounds built in close proximity of roof towers result in delayed egg hatching or increased un-hatching due to the radiation effect. Ergo, the fertilized egg is slow micro-waved to death.

5. Prolonged exposure to microwave radiation reduce the activity level in the sparrows making them less alert and more vulnerable to attacks by predators.

6. Other factors directly contributing to the fall of sparrows are killing of garden insects through garden pesticides (diet of the sparrow), fall in the number of green spaces and open grass lands, avian-unfriendly architecture, reduction in vegetation spaces which act as breeding grounds, air pollution and increase in lead concentration.

Why should we worry about the sparrows

We have listed 6 reasons linking disappearing sparrows and EMF Radiation. Sparrows are advance bio-indicators of climate and environmental changes for the urban eco-system indirectly and fore-warning human health risks. We can site Butterflies and Bees as more of such species which are loosing out to the relentless onslaught of unmindful and unsustainable development. These species are important, because they are pollinators. Decreasing numbers of butterflies, bees and sparrows has an impact on the plant life and flora in the eco-system. This creates a vicious spiral reducing the numbers of the bees, butterflies and sparrows even further.

End lines: Brightsandz is not anti-technology. However, we promote use of technology in a sustainable and responsible manner. 

The heading of this blog post is inspired by a book by ornithologist Dr.Salim Ali.

Reference:

House sparrow listed as an endangered species 

Disappearing sparrows: Common bird goes uncommon

A possible effect of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone base stations on the number of breeding house sparrows (Passer Domesticus)

Mobile tower radiation clips sparrows’ wings