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You may remember when you were a kid on campus or on the streets, you could often see a flock of sparrows pecking on the ground or chirping in a tree. They are one of the most common birds in our lives and one of the memories of our childhood. But have you noticed that in recent years, there have been fewer and fewer sparrows? Where the hell did they go? Was it eaten by the people of the mainland?
In fact, Chinese do not like to eat sparrow meat. Although sparrows were once considered a game meat, most people do not have much appetite for them because they are too small, have too little meat, and can carry germs or parasites. On the contrary, sparrows play an important role in agriculture and ecology.
They can eat large amounts of pest and weed seeds, protect the growth of crops, and can also provide food and habitat for other animals, maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance. So, if it's not for being eaten, why are there fewer and fewer sparrows? What are the reasons and effects behind this?
1. Sparrows used to be one of the "four pests".
The decline in the number of sparrows is not a recent phenomenon. As early as the 50s of the last century, the mainland once launched a "sparrow campaign", which listed sparrows, rats, flies, and mosquitoes as the "four pests" for large-scale extermination. At that time, it was understood that sparrows would eat a lot of grain and seeds, which would lead to a decrease in agricultural production, so they should be eliminated.
However, the result of the "sparrow campaign" was counterproductive. As sparrows' numbers have plummeted, the seeds of pests and weeds that they could have preyed on have proliferated, causing even greater losses to agriculture. At the same time, due to the lack of a place in the food chain, the survival and reproduction of other animals are also affected. It is estimated that the campaign has killed nearly 5.7 billion sparrows and indirectly caused three years of natural disasters.
Later, under the research and advocacy of scientist Zheng Zuoxin and others, the mainland gradually realized the importance of sparrows to agriculture and ecology, and stopped persecuting them. Even large quantities of sparrows were imported from the former Soviet Union to replenish the population. Since then, sparrows have been removed from the "four pests" and replaced by cockroaches.
Second, sparrows are threatened by environmental pollution and destruction
Although the mainland has ceased to carry out artificial extermination of sparrows, with the development of social economy and the process of urbanization, sparrows are still facing the threat of environmental pollution and destruction. Here are some of the main influencing factors:
1. Abuse of pesticides and herbicides
In order to improve the yield and quality of crops, many farmers use pesticides and herbicides heavily in the planting process to control pests and weeds. However, these chemicals not only contaminate soil and water sources, but can also remain in sparrows' food, causing them to be poisoned or have reproductive disorders. According to statistics, millions of sparrows die every year due to pesticide poisoning.
2. Habitat reduction and destruction
Sparrows like to nest in trees or in the crevices of buildings, but with the expansion and construction of cities, many places that were originally suitable for sparrows have been cut down or demolished, and sparrows have lost their safe and comfortable homes. On the other hand, due to the density and congestion of cities, sparrows also struggle to find enough food and water, and have to rely on garbage or scraps discarded by humans to survive.
3. Encroachment on human hunting and trade
Although Chinese do not like to eat sparrow meat, in some places, some people still catch sparrows for entertainment or economic purposes as toys or goods. Some people use nets, guns, poison and other means to catch sparrows, while others use sparrows for experiments or ornamentation. These behaviors not only cause injury and death to sparrows, but also disrupt their normal life and reproductive rhythms.
3. Measures and significance of sparrow protection
In the face of the declining number of sparrows, how should we protect these cute and useful little creatures? Here are some things we can do to protect sparrows:
Protect the habitat of sparrows. We should minimize the damage to the natural environment and preserve some trees, shrubs, meadows, etc., that are suitable for sparrows to inhabit. At the same time, the needs of wild animals such as sparrows should also be taken into account in urban construction, leaving some space and crevices for them to nest and rest.
Develop ecological agriculture and reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides. We should advocate for the use of more environmentally friendly and safe agricultural technologies and methods, such as biological control, crop rotation, intercropping, etc., to reduce dependence on chemical substances. This not only protects the health of animals such as sparrows, but also improves the quality and safety of agricultural products.
Strengthen environmental governance and reduce the emission of urban garbage and pollutants. We should strengthen the collection, treatment and recycling of municipal garbage and sewage to avoid their pollution to the environment. At the same time, we should also control emissions from industry, transportation, energy and other fields, and reduce air, water and soil pollution. This can improve the urban ecological environment and provide better conditions for the survival of sparrows and other animals.
The hunting and trade of sparrows is prohibited and legal protection of sparrows is strengthened. We should strictly enforce the Wildlife Protection Law and other relevant laws and regulations, and prohibit anyone from capturing, killing, selling, buying, eating or using wild animals such as sparrows for recreational or economic purposes. At the same time, we should also intensify supervision and punishment of illegal acts, and raise the public's awareness of the law and protection.
epilogue
Protecting sparrows is not only for their own right to live, but also for the benefit and responsibility of us humans. Sparrows are an integral part of our ecosystem, and they can provide us with a variety of ecological services, such as controlling pests, spreading seeds, and increasing the beauty of the landscape.
Without sparrows, our agriculture and the environment would be severely affected, and could even lead to even greater disasters. Therefore, we should cherish and protect these little beings and let them continue to sing around us.