Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Novosibirsk State University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The All-Russian Sparrow Census, "Sparrows in the Bushes," will take place from February 7th to 15th. During the census, scientists and ordinary people count the number of sparrows in our yards, parks, and fields. The event has been held since 2023. This year, Novosibirsk State University is the project's regional partner for the first time. Last year, Novosibirsk ranked fifth in sparrow counts, and this year, organizers hope to bring the region into the top three.
Sparrows have long lived alongside humans. House sparrows, in particular, are synanthropic, meaning their lives are directly linked to the human world. They are an integral part of our ecosystem. If sparrows suffer, so does our common home. In recent decades, ornithologists have noticed a decline in sparrow numbers. To confirm this and determine the causes, a sparrow census was conducted. The results of the count will help determine the population status and develop measures to address the situation.
However, scientists alone can't do it, because Russia is a large country, and it's important to count birds at a specific time and compare them with previous years' results. Therefore, citizen science—that's us—comes to the aid of scientists.
Senior Lecturer Humanities Institute of NSULyudmila Budneva, philologist and regional project coordinator, commented:
Why would I count sparrows? Because I can. I grew up in Akademgorodok, where the Young Naturalists' Station taught us first-graders to pay attention to the world around us, distinguish between animal species, and help them. My profession has nothing to do with biology, but my love of ornithology and the ability to see and hear birds remained, so I became a birdwatcher. Fortunately, Akademgorodok, Novosibirsk, and our region as a whole offer ample opportunities for birdwatching. For example, while I'm walking to work at Novosibirsk State University, I can spot 30 species of birds in 10 minutes during the winter alone! And sparrows are among my favorites. I associate them with friendship and spring.
Anyone can participate in the census. Simply find the sparrows, memorize their location, take a photo or video of them (a smartphone camera is usually sufficient), and submit this data by filling out a form on the project website. Detailed instructions are available on the website. sparrow.nbud.ru.
Participants must be 5 years old or older. Individuals and groups can participate. For example, neighbors could organize a mini-competition in the building's chat room, or the class could go sparrow-watching around the school.
"Tree sparrows predominate in Akademgorodok; they're less dependent on humans than house sparrows. House sparrows can be found in Shch and Shlyuz. You should look for them in the bushes where they hide, at bird feeders, and along the roads," added Lyudmila Budneva.
Participating in the campaign is an opportunity to spend time outdoors, listen to birdsong, and recharge your batteries. The campaign also teaches the basics of monitoring local biodiversity, engages the public in scientific volunteering, creates a reason to spend more time outdoors and observe animals, and teaches responsibility and caring.
More than 80 Russian regions are participating in the campaign, and regions are ranked based on the number of birds counted, the number of sparrow encounters recorded, and the number of participants. In the winter of 2025, Novosibirsk Oblast ranked fifth out of 81 regions for sparrow counts: 224 observations were made, with a total of 9,166 sparrows counted. Organizers believe the region has every chance of making it into the top three, but only if it does so fairly.
Importantly, participation awards verified volunteer hours on dobro.rf, which at some universities add points to applicants' Unified State Exams (USE) scores and generally demonstrate the level of public responsibility. Participants who successfully pass at least one observation can receive a personalized electronic certificate with their personal statistics.
The census coincides with Darwin Week, organized by NSU. Both events, on the one hand, are about curiosity and broadening horizons, and on the other, about getting acquainted with real science.
For advice on participation, please contact Anna Stanislavovna Mostovaya, head of the "Snail Marta" project: mostovaa@list.ru or via social networks VKontakteCoordinator in the Novosibirsk region is Lyudmila Viktorovna Budneva: @Budneva_Ludmila (Telegram), VKontakte.
The event is organized by the All-Russian public organization "Union for the Conservation of Birds of Russia," the popular biology project "Snail Marta," the autonomous non-profit organization "Center for Support of Initiatives in Science, Technology, and Culture 'Our Future,'" and the Presidential Nature Fund. In the Novosibirsk region, the event is supported by Novosibirsk State University.
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