Rama Krishna Sangem
BRS Rajya Sabha MP J Santosh Kumar this Sunday, August 27, clicked photos of a House finch or Red Sparrow, as popularly known as part of his #SundayPhotography. His weekly dose of photography has gained popularity among nature lovers. Santosh, founder of Green India Challenge has taken to camera for both as a hobby and as a way to promote the cause of nature and wildlife.
This Sunday’s tweets of House Finch, a sparrow like bird with red, plumage and parts of body are a rare sight in our country as these birds believed to be of North American origin. The bird with red upper body and blackish lower part and tail, sits on a rock, apparently nearby a water body. He tweeted them at 8 am and by 1.30 pm, they got 2,717 views, 150 likes and 40 reposts.
Curious birds
Though they are said to be of North American origins, these finch birds are these days seen across the Indian subcontinent and southern India. Possibly by migration or trade. In India, they are called red sparrows as they resemble hosue sparrows. These small sized birds – House finch – mostly roam around water bodies and lakes, where greenery is rich and dense.
They eat seeds, nuts and grain. People offer them food and water too. Of all sparrows, the red coloured ones are caught and traded illegally. A city based bird watcher told Excel India that sometime back they are spotted in KBR Park in Hyderabad, but not since recently. Hope, our nature loving people will help them get back their space and allow them to survive.
