Annual summer count aims to solve mystery of disappearing urban birds, with 56,922 recorded in 2024
Russia has begun its biannual Great Sparrow Census, running from 9–17 August, to monitor the country’s house sparrow (Passer domesticus) populations amid global declines. The citizen science project, which recorded 56,922 birds in summer 2024 (up from 40,062 in spring 2023), helps scientists understand unexplained drops in urban sparrow numbers observed worldwide.
How It Works:
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Volunteers observe sparrows in parks, gardens, or streets, logging numbers and behaviour
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Data collected: Flock size, activity patterns, and photographic evidence
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Scientific value: Tracks links between urbanisation, pollution, and bird health
“Sparrows are ecological sentinels,” organisers noted. “*Their decline could trigger pest outbreaks—they consume **7–8 kg of insects annually per pair*.*”** The census complements similar initiatives in the UK (RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch) and France (OGM’s Moineaux de Paris).
Global Context
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Europe: 247M sparrows lost since 1980 (BirdLife International)
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Possible causes:
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5G radiation (disputed)
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Insect collapse (primary food source)
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Architectural changes (fewer nesting spaces)
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Photo: freepik.com