‘Gauraiya Bihar’ App Launched to Prepare Sparrow Database

Context

On the occasion of World Sparrow Day (March 20, 2025), the Bihar Department of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change launched a mobile application titled ‘Gauraiya Bihar’ in Patna.

The initiative aims to create a geo-tagged digital database of sparrows, whose population has seen a sharp decline in recent years.

About the ‘Gauraiya Bihar’ App

Launched by:

Department of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Government of BiharOccasion:

World Sparrow Day 2025Objective:

To collect data and build a digital database and population map of sparrows across Bihar.Key Features:

Citizens can upload geo-tagged photos of sparrows using the app.
The data will help the government analyze population distribution and trends.
Aims to raise public participation in bird conservation.

Significance of the Initiative

Conservation through Citizen Science: Encourages community involvement in wildlife monitoring.
Data-Driven Conservation: Enables creation of a sparrow population map for targeted ecological planning.
Ecological Importance of Sparrows:
- Act as bioindicators of a healthy environment.
- Control insect populations, supporting agriculture and natural pest management.
Urban Ecology Focus: Helps address the decline of sparrows due to urbanization, pollution, and loss of nesting spaces.

Government’s Broader Conservation Vision

The department aims to increase Bihar’s green cover to 17% by 2028, which will provide natural habitats for small birds like sparrows.
Emphasis on habitat restoration, public awareness, and nest installation.

Statements from Officials

Sunil Kumar, Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister, highlighted the need to integrate habitat expansion with bird conservation.
Bandana Preyashi, Department Secretary, emphasized that even if 50% of installed nests are occupied, it will mark a major success for the initiative.

Updated - Mar 20, 2025, 8:26 PM | TOI