It’s a symbiotic relationship for Vashi-resident Divya Gaikwad and the common Indian sparrows. For the past eight years, Divya has been building homes for the sparrows, helping them to regain their numbers and become ubiquitous in the city. In return, the birds have filled her life with unadulterated joy.

Thanks to Gaikwad, founder of the Divya Vaibhav Gaikwad Foundation, and her husband and co-founder, Vaibhav, there has been a positive transformation.

“The birds are back in the gardens and you seem them quite often now,” Gaikwad said.

Across 10 gardens in Vashi (Ward 64), the Gaikwad Foundation has been installing safe nesting spaces and offering the birds access to food and water.

“Nature conservation is at the core of what we do, and through our foundation, we are committed to making a lasting impact,” says Divya.

Their first conservation drive began in 2017, and since then, their journey has been one of constant learning and adaptation.

“We don’t believe in one-time initiatives that fade away. We are in this for the long run,” says Vaibhav. Over the years, the couple has fine-tuned their approach by understanding the needs of these birds.

“Sparrows refuse to enter plastic-made birdhouses, so we ensure all nesting houses are made of wood,” explains Vaibhav. Additionally, sparrows prefer clean and undisturbed spaces, so the nests are regularly maintained when birds are not present.

Feeding these tiny creatures is a simple yet impactful task, says Divya.

“We source mixed grains and regularly refill the feeders. And the grains which fall on the ground are consumed by squirrels. For water, we have placed large earthen bowls in gardens.”

One of the biggest hurdles has been birdhouses going missing. However, increasing awareness has solved the problem to a certain extent.

“If a nest becomes too damaged over time, we replace it to ensure the birds always have shelter,” adds Divya.

The initiative has also inspired like-minded citizens to act.

Among those who have taken an active step in bird conservation recently is Sampat Shewale, former chairman of NMMC standing committee.

On World Sparrow Day, Shewale installed 10 hanging food feeders and water feeders at Meenatai Thackeray Park in sector 17, Vashi.

“The dedicated bird feeder for sparrows was a suggestion by resident Meena Dalvi. I loved the idea and implemented it,” shares Shewale.

The response has been overwhelming, with residents coming forward to contribute bird feed, ensuring the sustainability of the initiative.

Encouraged by its success, Shewale has pledged to expand the project to three more gardens under his jurisdiction.

“It’s not just about public gardens; people should install such feeders in their societies too,” suggests Shewale.

“It is heartening to see people coming forward for conservation of sparrows. However, the whole purpose goes waste, if the feeder and nest are not strategically placed”, says Dr Ketki Marthak, ENT specialist and an avid birder.