Russet sparrow (Passer cinnamomeus), which used to be a common bird species in mountain villages, have seen their range and population decline drastically in recent years, and it is currently estimated that there are no more than 1,000 birds left and that they could disappear altogether from Taiwan at any time. In order to protect endangered russet sparrows, the Chiayi Forest District Office of the Forestry Bureau has launched a russet sparrow conservation campaign. Campaign actions have been carried out in the Meishan area (Ruifeng, Bihu, and Longyan), including setting up nesting boxes and feeding stations, planting edible grasses, and promoting community awareness. The campaign brings local communities and elementary schools together to actively promote the conservation of russet sparrows, with the hope that it will make the Alishan region the warmest nesting site for russet sparrows.
Conservation Campaign to Prevent Russet Sparrows from Disappearing from Taiwan
The Chiayi Forest District Office explained that russet sparrows are sparrows found in the mountains. Russet sparrows are similar in size and color to house sparrows and are mainly found in lower-altitude mountainous areas, mostly in mountain village settlements and surrounding farmland and grasslands. Their staple foods are similar to house sparrows, also being based on plant seeds, cereals, and insects. The russet sparrow is an endangered wildlife species under conservation status. In recent years, various surveys conducted by government agencies, academic institutions, and conservation organizations have shown that the distribution of russet sparrows has been drastically reduced over the past 20 years. It is estimated that the total number of russet sparrows in Taiwan is likely to be less than 1,000, a very small population. Current data indicates that Dapu Township, Fanlu Township, and Meishan Township in Chiayi County are the few remaining breeding areas for russet sparrows. Therefore, the protection and creation of russet sparrow habitat in the greater Alishan region is a matter of urgency.
Providing Nest and Food to Increase Sparrow Population
According to the Chiayi Forest District Office, russet sparrows have less food in winter, so having enough food before breeding season to ensure the birds have enough energy to breed is an important focus for russet sparrow conservation. The Chiayi Forest District Office discovered that farmers from the mountain villages customarily mix rice chaff in the fields to improve soil quality, inadvertently creating an ideal foraging ground for russet sparrows. As a result, three feeding stations have been set up in imitation, where a mixture of hulled millet and rice chaff is spread out as feed to provide the russet sparrows with a source of food. In addition, millet has also been planted in the communities and is expected to serve as a foraging ground for russet sparrows in the autumn and winter, when food is scarce.
In the natural environment, russet sparrows use tree holes as breeding sites, but the number of tree holes is limited, and russet sparrows cannot compete with other animals due to their small size. According to assessments from some experts, the lack of tree holes is one of the reasons for the decline in the russet sparrow population. Therefore, setting up artificial nesting boxes where russet sparrows can breed has also been a priority for this year. In 2019, the Chiayi Forest District Office has protected at least 79 young birds to nest successfully through the use of nesting boxes. This year, 149 nesting boxes have been set up, with 20 pairs of russet sparrows currently breeding, and 15 young birds successfully reared to leave the nest, while there are an even higher number of birds still hatching their eggs and raising the chicks. Therefore, it is estimated that this year's increase in russet sparrow population number should be better than last year's.
Communities Pro-actively Initiating Collaboration to Help Russet Sparrows through the Winter
The russet sparrow habitat is inseparably linked to human activity, and community affirmation and support is key to success. The Chiayi Forest District Office emphasized that during the implementation of the conservation measures, the community members provided a lot of help, such as pro-actively providing land for feeding stations, offering planting experience when growing millet, and even helping to weed and water the fields. Last year, the Ruifeng Village Community Development Association and Ruifeng Elementary School named the gift box made from locally produced tea "Joyous Sparrows", using the russet sparrow as a symbol of the community's locally produced souvenir gift sets. Ruifeng Elementary School has also made the russet sparrow the school's mascot. All of these actions show that the communities cherish the russet sparrow, and demonstrate their passion to promote conservation.
The continued survival of russet sparrows is closely related to traditional agricultural practices and human activities in mountain villages. Therefore, the Chiayi Forest District Office implemented the Russet Sparrow Conservation Campaign Strategy, hoping to integrate the lifestyle and production activities of mountain villages in order to carry out russet sparrow conservation through eco-friendly actions. This year, conservation work was carried out in the communities of Ruifeng, Bihu, and Longyan in Meishan Township, with a view to promote the conservation of russet sparrows in collaboration with the communities and elementary schools. It is hoped that these actions can enable the russet sparrows to return to mountain villages and help recover a lost piece in the mountain village biodiversity puzzle.
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