The characteristic ko-oooo, koo-oooo of the koel can be heard at every neighbourhood in the city. The sounds of rose-ringed parakeets and mynahs are familiar too. “These birds are reared at homes as they mimic human voices. But, it is illegal,” says R. Mohammed Saleem of Environment Conservation Group.
These birds are listed under Schedule IV of Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972 which implies that they cannot be kept in captivity.
“You cannot treat them as pets. The Wildlife Protection Act puts all Indian birds under five schedules. The national bird figures under Schedule I. Many rare birds occupy other categories. The birds that are listed under Schedule V are allowed as pets. This includes only the common crow and fruit bats,” says Saleem.
Saleem and his team rescued hundreds of parakeets from homes in Edyarpalayam and Saibaba Colony. They rescue the birds, rehabilitate, and set them free. “Some birds refuse to take fruits. At home, they are fed payasam, savouries and junk food. They also clip their wings. We nourish the birds and wait till they recoup before letting them back into the forest,” he adds. N. Parthibarajan has rescued Indian peacock that was confined to a home at Vilankurichi Road, and hill mynahs from places in Perur.
“The feeding, and breeding cycle of the birds gets affected when they are confined at homes. Some birds get accustomed to life inside a cage. We find it difficult to rehabilitate such birds. We keep them at the zoo for a few days,” says Parthibarajan.
One has to watch out for illegal traders selling exotic birds. Says Saleem, “Smaller birds like munias are coloured artificially to make them look exotic. In most cases, the cages are unhygienic and poses health risk for the birds.”
Naturalists add that there are several ways to attract the birds closer to homes. Place some grains and a bowl of water in open spaces. House sparrows and mynahs start visiting the place looking for food. Artificial nest balls can do the trick too. “You can also spot blue rock pigeons that are commonly seen now. Koel feeds on fruits like grapes and papaya. Grow a papaya tree and wait for it to bear fruits. You will have woodpeckers, tree pies, and golden orioles visiting the tree to feed on ripe papayas,” adds Saleem.
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