bringing down bird population studies have found that they can cause thin skulls of chicks and thin egg shells says dhanya r a researcher at saconthe team at the centre for environment and vocational studies of panjab university headed by rk kohli exposed 50 eggs to emr for durations of five minutes to 30 minutes the bible has repeated references of sparrows indicating that they were in abundance in the middle east 2000 years ago azeez also blames the supermarket culture now they are nowhere to be seen says daniels attributing it to an increase in population of rodents which steal eggs disappearing open grasslands rising temperature and modern birdunfriendly architecture according to zoologist ranjit daniels at least four of the 200odd species of birds of chennai are fast disappearing microwaves can interfere with their sensors and misguide them while navigating and preying says daniels pigeons which are multiplying in large numbers in cities find ventilators an analogue to their natural rocky confines its almost like being microwaved kohli told toichennaibased zoologist ranjit daniels says four of the 200odd chennai birds house sparrow passer domesticus redwhiskered bulbul pycnonotus jocosus brahmini kite haliastur indus and spotted dove streptopelia chinensis have virtually disappeared three years later the study found microwaves 300 mhz to 300 ghz emitted by cell phone towers and handsets responsible for damaging eggs and embryos researchers at the salim ali centre for ornithology and natural history sacon coimbatore say there are enough reasons to attribute bird mortality to such radiation house sparrows used to live in crevices of buildings p a azeez senior principal scientist at salim ali centre for ornithology and natural history concurs urban birds have the habit of finding an urban analogue for their wild nests all the 50 embryos were damaged today everything is packaged while studies in spain and belgium have established the illeffects of electromagnetic radiation emr emitted by cell phone masts on birds a study to be published next month by a team in panjab university has found that emr can damage bird eggs and embryos on their way out are house sparrows redwhiskered bulbuls brahminy kites and spotted doves