AT a time when sparrows are rapidly disappearing from villages due to urbanisation, shrinking green spaces and the lack of safe nesting sites, a young man from Mandraud village in Kurud block has emerged as a ray of hope for bird conservation. Twenty-five-year-old Mohan Sahu has been working tirelessly since 2018 to protect sparrows and other small birds by creating artificial nests at his own expense. His efforts have led to the construction of more than 3,000 wooden nests and nearly 1,000 tin-pipe nests, all of which have been installed free of cost in villages across the region. The nests have been placed in Mandraud, Seldeep, Joratarai, Sindhaurikala, Sindhaurikhurd, Megha, Araud, Umarda, Kamaroud, Kurud and Dhamtari, among other areas. The initiative, which has cost several lakhs of rupees, aims to provide secure shelter and breeding spaces for sparrows whose natural habitats have steadily declined over the years. To further support bird survival, Mohan has designed special feeding and watering stations by repurposing old tin barrels.

 

These structures contain separate compartments for grain and a central section for water, offering much-needed relief to birds during the intense summer heat. According to Mohan, more than 600 chicks have hatched in the artificial nests so far, indicating the positive impact of the campaign. In several locations where sparrows had nearly vanished, their numbers are gradually increasing once again. His contribution to bird conservation has earned him the Samaj Bhushan Award from the Global Scholars Foundation, Pune, and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Samaj Gaurav Samiti, Raipur. Apart from building nests, Mohan is actively promoting environmental awareness among schoolchildren. He encourages students to participate in biodiversity conservation by making and installing bird nests in their surroundings. Today, his initiative stands as a powerful reminder that individual efforts can play a crucial role in protecting nature. Through dedication, innovation and perseverance, Mohan Sahu has demonstrated that meaningful change is possible even with limited resources, inspiring others to join the cause of environmental conservation.