Kolkata: (Report- Sanatan Mahakud): The Dawoodi Bohra community has relaunched its nationwide initiative, the ‘Save Our Sparrows (SOS)’ campaign, to raise awareness about the declining sparrow population and encourage efforts to protect their habitats. Since its launch, in 2011, the campaign has transformed into a mass movement with enthusiastic nature lovers embracing it with zest and passion. This year, in 2025, the birdfeeder rollout commenced on the 6th of March and will culminate on the 20th March, which is observed as World Sparrow Day. 
As part of this initiative, Dawoodi Bohra volunteers will distribute around 53,000 bird feeders to households, schools, parks and community centers across different parts of the country.
Led by Burhani Foundation, the Dawoodi Bohra community's environmental arm, the "Save Our Sparrows" campaign builds on a legacy of environmental stewardship. In 2011, Burhani Foundation set a world record by distributing a remarkable 52,000 bird feeders, marking a significant milestone in sparrow conservation.
The relaunch of this campaign, in collaboration with Project Rise, the community's global philanthropic arm, highlights the alarming decline of sparrows in urban landscapes and underscores the urgent need to protect their habitats. It comes with a small but clarion call - together we can make a difference, together we can save our sparrows.
These little winged friends have been human companions for over ten thousand years. They are seminal agents of pollination, keep insect and pest populations in check as they feed on them, serve as a food source for many other birds and animals that help maintain the food web and most importantly, keep diseases in check by feeding on larvae of disease spreading agents of malaria and dengue.
Sparrows are essential to maintaining the delicate ecological balance and these feeders will provide essential food sources for sparrows, which have been vanishing due to rapid urbanization and loss of natural habitat, EMF radiations due to widespread usage of mobile phone towers, heavy usage of pesticides which destroys their food source, rising pollution levels and environmental degradation.
"Sparrows are not just any birds, they are indicators of our ecosystem's health. Their decline is a warning sign that we must act quickly to preserve biodiversity," said Husain Attari, a Dawoodi Bohra volunteer and Project Rise Kolkata Team member.
"We are thrilled to see people from all walks of life unite for this noble cause. It's heartening to see children and adults alike taking an interest in biodiversity conservation.”
Kolkata witnessed around 5300 birdfeeder distributions and installations in prominent landmarks across the city on a single day. Prominent parks like The Botanical Gardens, Central Park Salt Lake, The Eden Gardens Park, school premises like The Heritage School and College, Don Bosco, Park Circus, Narayana School, Calcutta International School and Saifee Golden Jubilee English Public School and other locations like Nakhoda Masjid, Marathon Runners Group and Calcutta Chamber of Trade Association Office and a few residential complex and apartments were covered as part of this drive.
The school children displayed incredible enthusiasm and excitement as they actively participated in the installation of bird feeders on their school premises. With bright smiles and eager hands, they carefully set up the feeders, filled them with seeds, and eagerly discussed the different bird species they hoped to attract. “Their curiosity and commitment to creating a welcoming space for birds were truly inspiring, as they saw this initiative not just as an activity but as a meaningful step toward caring for nature,” shared Tasneem Sayeed, a Dawoodi Bohra volunteer and Project Rise Kolkata Team member. Many also expressed their wish to own these feeders for their homes.
The campaign has embraced technology to track the placement and usage of the bird feeders and amplify its impact. A dedicated digital platform has been developed to allow participants to document sparrow sightings, monitor feeder activity and share updates on efforts to protect sparrow habitats. This data will help measure the campaign's progress and provide insights into areas where sparrow populations require additional support.
As part of this initiative, Dawoodi Bohra volunteers will distribute around 53,000 bird feeders to households, schools, parks and community centers across different parts of the country.
Led by Burhani Foundation, the Dawoodi Bohra community's environmental arm, the "Save Our Sparrows" campaign builds on a legacy of environmental stewardship. In 2011, Burhani Foundation set a world record by distributing a remarkable 52,000 bird feeders, marking a significant milestone in sparrow conservation.
The relaunch of this campaign, in collaboration with Project Rise, the community's global philanthropic arm, highlights the alarming decline of sparrows in urban landscapes and underscores the urgent need to protect their habitats. It comes with a small but clarion call - together we can make a difference, together we can save our sparrows.
These little winged friends have been human companions for over ten thousand years. They are seminal agents of pollination, keep insect and pest populations in check as they feed on them, serve as a food source for many other birds and animals that help maintain the food web and most importantly, keep diseases in check by feeding on larvae of disease spreading agents of malaria and dengue.
Sparrows are essential to maintaining the delicate ecological balance and these feeders will provide essential food sources for sparrows, which have been vanishing due to rapid urbanization and loss of natural habitat, EMF radiations due to widespread usage of mobile phone towers, heavy usage of pesticides which destroys their food source, rising pollution levels and environmental degradation.
"Sparrows are not just any birds, they are indicators of our ecosystem's health. Their decline is a warning sign that we must act quickly to preserve biodiversity," said Husain Attari, a Dawoodi Bohra volunteer and Project Rise Kolkata Team member.
"We are thrilled to see people from all walks of life unite for this noble cause. It's heartening to see children and adults alike taking an interest in biodiversity conservation.”
Kolkata witnessed around 5300 birdfeeder distributions and installations in prominent landmarks across the city on a single day. Prominent parks like The Botanical Gardens, Central Park Salt Lake, The Eden Gardens Park, school premises like The Heritage School and College, Don Bosco, Park Circus, Narayana School, Calcutta International School and Saifee Golden Jubilee English Public School and other locations like Nakhoda Masjid, Marathon Runners Group and Calcutta Chamber of Trade Association Office and a few residential complex and apartments were covered as part of this drive.
The school children displayed incredible enthusiasm and excitement as they actively participated in the installation of bird feeders on their school premises. With bright smiles and eager hands, they carefully set up the feeders, filled them with seeds, and eagerly discussed the different bird species they hoped to attract. “Their curiosity and commitment to creating a welcoming space for birds were truly inspiring, as they saw this initiative not just as an activity but as a meaningful step toward caring for nature,” shared Tasneem Sayeed, a Dawoodi Bohra volunteer and Project Rise Kolkata Team member. Many also expressed their wish to own these feeders for their homes.
The campaign has embraced technology to track the placement and usage of the bird feeders and amplify its impact. A dedicated digital platform has been developed to allow participants to document sparrow sightings, monitor feeder activity and share updates on efforts to protect sparrow habitats. This data will help measure the campaign's progress and provide insights into areas where sparrow populations require additional support.
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