Looking for the Chirpy Chirping Sparrows To Bring Back Happiness

March 20 is celebrated as the International Day of Happiness and also World Sparrow Day. N Kalyani says with the sparrow and happiness being commemorated on the same day it is hoped that efforts to protect the sparrow and raise its population across its home range prove fruitful and meet with success so that the return of the sparrow brings back happiness.

- N Kalyani

There is a short video for the International Day of Happiness, celebrated on March 20, on the UN website, capturing the opinions of persons, speaking in different languages, on what makes them happy, on what gives them happiness. It is a cheerful video to watch and share. For me it has been a matter of happiness to pen what has become the story here bringing sparrows and happiness together. March 20 commemorates the International Day of Happiness as also the World Sparrow Day. It seems to be a beautiful and magical coincidence of commemorations on March 20.

Like so many bird lovers, and more specifically sparrow lovers, for me the sparrow is (was?!) a symbol of chirpiness, what with their pleasant chirping, chirruping and twittering accompanying their activities of feeding, nesting and raising their young ones right within our living spaces, right within our homes. Habits, traits and characteristics of the male and female house sparrow have always made for interesting watching. These have remained etched in the memory over the years. Whether it was the industrious birds building their precious nest. Or the hungry hatchlings ravenously craving for morsels from their indulgent parents. Or then the birds asserting their right to enter our homes whether by flying in through open doors or by knocking persistently at closed glass window panes. And yet there were times when the boldness of the birds cost them their lives when they struck against rotating electric ceiling fans that were a summer time necessity. Though at times kind souls would even turn off their fans to prevent sparrows from being hurt.