When is World Sparrow Day?
World Sparrow Day 2027 is on Saturday
Saturday, March 20, 2027
March 20 every year. That's in 154 days.
until World Sparrow Day begins, in your time zone
World Sparrow Day draws attention to the decline of the house sparrow and other common birds in towns and cities, and encourages simple ways to help them. India's Nature Forever Society started it in 2010.
About World Sparrow Day
The house sparrow has lived alongside people for centuries, nesting in roofs and walls and feeding around homes and markets. In many cities its numbers have dropped. The day's organizers link the decline to modern buildings with no gaps for nests, fewer insects for feeding chicks, pesticide use, pollution and fast urban growth. Because the bird depends so closely on human settlements, they treat it as a signal of how healthy a city's environment is.
World Sparrow Day was started by the Nature Forever Society, a conservation group based in Nashik, India, founded by Mohammed Dilawar. Time magazine named Dilawar one of its Heroes of the Environment in 2008, noting that he had begun his sparrow work after reading in 2005 about falling sparrow numbers in Britain and suspecting the same was happening in Indian cities. According to the society's original website, the idea for the day came up in an informal conversation at its office, and 2010 was the first year it was celebrated. The Eco-Sys Action Foundation in France was an early partner.
The day is not a UN observance and has no official government status. Its stated aims go beyond sparrows to common birds and everyday wildlife in general, the species that people tend to overlook because they are not rare. Activities include nest box and feeder drives, awareness programs in schools and neighborhoods, citizen workshops, art projects and social media campaigns.
Sources: World Sparrow Day (Nature Forever Society): History, World Sparrow Day: FAQ, World Sparrow Day: Background (2012, archived), Time: Heroes of the Environment 2008, Mohammed Dilawar (archived). How we check dates.
How to mark World Sparrow Day
- Put up a sparrow nest box on a shaded wall or under the eaves, out of reach of cats.
- Leave a shallow bowl of clean water on a balcony or in the yard and refresh it daily, especially in hot weather.
- Plant native shrubs and flowers that attract insects, which sparrows need to feed their chicks, and avoid chemical pesticides.
- Count the sparrows and other common birds you see in fifteen minutes and note how the numbers change through the year.
- Help a school or housing society organize a talk, drawing contest or nest box workshop about city birds.
World Sparrow Day dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Thursday, March 20, 2025 |
| 2026 | Friday, March 20, 2026 |
| 2027 | Saturday, March 20, 2027 |
| 2028 | Monday, March 20, 2028 |
| 2029 | Tuesday, March 20, 2029 |
| 2030 | Wednesday, March 20, 2030 |
| 2031 | Thursday, March 20, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is World Sparrow Day 2027?
World Sparrow Day 2027 is on Saturday, March 20, 2027. It falls on March 20 every year. In 2028, it is on Monday, March 20, 2028.
Who started World Sparrow Day?
The Nature Forever Society of India, founded by conservationist Mohammed Dilawar, started World Sparrow Day in 2010, working with partners including the Eco-Sys Action Foundation in France.
Why are house sparrows declining?
The day's organizers point to modern buildings without nesting spaces, fewer insects for chicks, pesticides, pollution and rapid urbanization. The causes can differ from place to place.
Is World Sparrow Day a public holiday?
No. World Sparrow Day is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.