The Sparrow Man of Coimbatore: Building habitats to nest

For years, the house sparrow has peacefully co-existed with humans -- in our buildings and gardens, rather than in forests. But in the last two decades, their population has been on the decline, as new and modern designs of infrastructure in our rapidly changing cities do not give any room for the sparrow to nest.

The fast-expanding city of Coimbatore was no different. Till, along came a school dropout, Pandiyarajan, fondly known as the Sparrow Man of Coimbatore and #AForceForGood. Fifty-year-old Pandiyarajan, who works as a turner at a lathe workshop, had grown up with sparrows flitting all around him. But with time, his friends started to disappear.

“Back then,” Pandiyarajan says, “tiled roofs had gaps where birds nested. Now all we have are concrete buildings.” Driven by his love for sparrows, Pandiyarajan decided to act. After countless failed attempts, he built the perfect wooden birdhouse, designed to protect sparrows from predators like crows. The birds loved their new homes, and soon their eggs began to hatch.

Pandiyarajan earns barely Rs 15,000 a month, a large chunk of which he spends to buy wood for these abodes. Together with his crew, he has built 3,000 birdhouses so far. “The birds rely entirely on humans for survival. And right now, the birdhouses are their most basic need. That’s why I am here to help them. It’s crucial because they are a part of our lives, and we share this world with them.”

If Pandiyarajan is building homes for sparrows, over in Bengaluru, another Sparrow Man, retired government official Edwin Joseph  has turned his home into a bird sanctuary for over 200 of these tiny creatures. May their tribe increase.

Aditya Birla Group is happy to partner The Better India to give voice to inspiring stories of people acting as #AForceForGood.