The Birds We Grew Up With Are Disappearing
There was a time when the morning sounds of India were impossible to imagine without sparrows, parrots and crows.
A sparrow would sit near a window. A green ring-necked parakeet would fly over rooftops. Crows would gather around trees and streets. Cats would move quietly through neighbourhoods.
Today, in many urban areas, people are noticing something different: some of these familiar animals are becoming less common.
But this is not a story of one species suddenly disappearing everywhere. It is a warning about how rapidly our surroundings are changing.
The Sparrow: A Small Bird With a Big Warning
The house sparrow is perhaps the most emotional example.
The species remains widespread, but its numbers have declined in many cities. WWF-India notes that house-sparrow populations are declining in almost every Indian city, with changing urban habitats among the concerns.
Modern buildings often provide fewer nesting spaces. At the same time, changes in vegetation and insect availability can reduce food for young birds.
The disappearance of a familiar bird may therefore be telling us something about the environment around us.
What About the Indian Ringneck Parrot?
The beautiful green Indian ring-necked parrot, also called the rose-ringed parakeet, is often described online as being close to extinction.
That claim needs correction.
Globally, the rose-ringed parakeet is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, and its overall population is not considered close to extinction.
However, that does not mean every local population is safe.
Habitat destruction, trapping for the illegal pet trade and conflicts with agriculture can affect local populations. Protecting natural nesting and feeding areas remains important.
Crows Are Also Becoming Less Visible in Some Cities
For generations, crows were among the most familiar birds in Indian cities.
But reports from places such as Bengaluru have documented noticeable local declines. Researchers and environmental observers have pointed toward urbanisation, shrinking nesting habitat and other environmental pressures as possible contributors.
Crows are not globally close to extinction as a group.
But when a species that once seemed almost impossible to avoid starts disappearing from particular neighbourhoods, it deserves attention.
And What About Cats?
Cats present a different story.
Domestic cats are certainly not close to extinction. In fact, free-ranging and feral cats can become a significant threat to wildlife because of their hunting behaviour.
Research has documented the enormous number of wild animals killed by free-ranging cats in some countries, particularly where cats have access to sensitive wildlife habitats.
That does not mean cats are “bad.”
It means that responsible pet ownership matters—particularly keeping cats from freely hunting native birds and other wildlife where this creates conservation problems.
Are We Losing More Than Animals?
Perhaps the bigger issue is not whether a particular species is officially endangered.
The bigger question is:
What happens when the animals that shared our everyday lives gradually disappear?
Concrete replaces open spaces.
Trees are removed.
Old buildings are demolished.
Gardens become parking areas.
Pesticides reduce insects.
Glass buildings create hazards for birds.
Urbanisation continues to expand.
And animals that once lived alongside us increasingly struggle to find food, shelter and safe places to reproduce.
Nature Doesn’t Send Us a Warning Letter
Nature does not send a message saying:
“Your ecosystem is in danger.”
Sometimes the warning is much quieter.
There are fewer sparrows on the roof.
Fewer butterflies in the garden.
Fewer birds nesting in trees.
Fewer crows on the street.
And one day, children may ask:
“Why don’t we see these birds anymore?”
That is when we may realise that something we considered ordinary was actually part of a living ecosystem.
We Can Still Make a Difference
Protecting wildlife does not always require huge projects.
People can plant native trees, preserve old trees where possible, provide clean water during extreme heat, maintain bird-friendly gardens and avoid unnecessary pesticide use.
For pet owners, responsible management is equally important—especially preventing cats from hunting wildlife.
And instead of capturing wild parrots, we should appreciate them where they belong: in nature.
The Real Extinction We Should Fear
Extinction is not always a sudden event.
Sometimes a species becomes uncommon in one place, then disappears from another, and eventually survives only in small isolated populations.
We should therefore not wait until a familiar animal officially reaches an endangered category before caring about it.
The sparrow, parakeet and crow are reminders that our cities are not separate from nature.
We share them.
And perhaps the real question isn’t:
“Will these animals become extinct?”
It is:
“Will we allow our children to inherit a world where the animals we grew up with exist only in photographs?”
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