The World's sparrow day to highlight the dwindling numbers of this bird was observed on Saturday. In view of the number of house sparrows coming down in India as well, a three year project has been initiated by the Environment Ministry to save this common species. Noted Environmentalist, Mohammed Dilawar of the Mumbai Natural History Society will head the project. Mohammed Dilawar has been working for the cause of sparrow conservation for more than five years. <br/><br/>Sparrow nests used to dot almost every house in the residential colonies, and every public place but day-by-day their numbers are diminishing. <br/><br/>According to environmentalist Dilawar this is because of the change in the style of architecture, the pollution caused by microwave towers and excessive use of pesticides as well as gradual decrease in nesting sites. So far the focus has been on the animals that are on the verge of extinction or those who are threatened with extinction and the people do not think about common birds like sparrows, mynas and even squirrels who need to be conserved. Dilawar has described the house sparrow as the common man in Indian democracy. Like the common man whose problems and welfare is the centre of democracy is often ignored. <br/><br/>Similarly, we are being indifferent to the conservation of the sparrows which have been part and parcel of our daily life.<br/>