Rohtas: Arjun Singh's house in Merari village in Bihar's Rohtas is home to the state bird - Sparrows!
Popularly known as the 'Birdman of Rohtas', Arjun Singh has transformed his ancestral house in such a way that it is frequented by birds, especially sparrows.
He created holes in the walls in which only sparrows can enter, and had become their saviour for the past 18 years.
It all began after he had an encounter with an ailing sparrow, that had fallen from a tree in the courtyard of his house.
"After the death of my wife, I had become quite lonely and had shifted to Merari. While I was seated in my courtyard, I found an injured baby sparrow. I took it in and nursed it to health by providing food and treatment. Since then, several others sparrows started visiting and their number is now in thousands," maintained Singh, recollecting the past.
Singh further said that he had to modify his house, as the birds which were making nests were being destroyed by predators.
"Soon after the incident, other sparrows started visiting in my courtyard. Gradually, birds started coming there and making nests. However, the birds were attacked by other creatures and even there eggs were destroyed. Hence, I transformed my house into the existing structure now," he added.
Arjun Singh is a member of Bihar Wildlife Council and he has been honoured with several awards for sparrow protection.
A farmer by occupation, Singh spends paddy and wheat throughout the year to feed his small friends.
The population of Bihar's state bird, locally known as Goraya, has been rapidly declining in both rural and urban settings in the state.
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