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Chennai
Hyderabad
Friends of the feathered kind
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Just like cats and dogs, many people keep birds as pets too. A chat with some of Chennai's aviculturists...
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NOT ALL noise is tuneless. There are people to whom certain noises are more tuneful than the most mellifluous music. The babble of a baby must be a dulcet strain on the ears of his parents, as must be the chatter of pet birds on those of their owners. And Chennai does have men and women who value the shrieks and squawks of their feathered friends many notches above the MTV chart-busters.
Recently one met a rather unlikely owner of pet birds. The scene is the Pets' Point at Em El Em complex in Mahalingapuram. Twelve-year-old Shreyan is racking his brains in an effort to settle upon the birds he would take home.
"The boy is hipped on birds. Thanks a million to the Internet, he gets all the brush-up on exotic birds around the world," says Demetrius Issac of Pets' Point.
One learns that an avian interest flowered within the boy when he was just knee-high to a grasshopper. "I have been bringing up birds since I was four years old when I got my first bird. I am in my eight standard now. When I complete my tenth standard I would go to Australia to study an ornithology course there," says Shreyan, laying his cards on the table.
After much thought and examination, he walks away with a pair of red-rumped parakeets.
"Is there an encouraging market in the city? And does it (the market) encompass more than the upper strata?"
"Yes. There is a voracious market and it is not confined to the upper strata. There are people from humble stations in life who are willing to dig deep into their pockets once they take a fancy to a bird," says Issac. "Actually, there are birds to suit all pockets. There are finches which come for Rs. 150 a pair, hand-tamed cockatiels for Rs. 500 a pair and then there are hand-tamed cockatoos which cost Rs. 35,000 each," says Issac.
One could not help noticing a splendid-looking sulphur-crested cockatoo, which is squawking boisterously. Cockatoos are known as pets for life, because they could live for anywhere between 40 and 70 years, depending on the variety.
In A.K.V. Murugan the aesthetic instinct and commercial interest are comfortably coalesced. He is an avian enthusiast who breeds birds and sells them to bird outlets in the city.
"It is a hobby that brings in some money. Though the effort is worth more than brass farthings, it cannot sufficiently replace a stable 9 to 5 job. Especially so in Chennai. I do this part-time," says Murugan.
Bird seller Charles Gabriel echoes the observation.
"Most of my clients are not from Chennai. The monetary benefits from the trade are nothing much to write home about."
In keeping with the tradition of bird-lovers and aviculturists, he took the plunge into the world of birds when he was wet behind the ears. One is forced to conclude that one has to be reasonably gung-ho about aviculture, if he is to be in for a long haul. And if one is inclined to count the costs, it is only a matter of time before he throws in the towel. For, aviculture is its own reward.
Who keeps birds and why?
Corporate houses set up aviaries in their offices for their decorative value. These bird houses provide an impressive view for visitors to drink in.
Ashrams and meditation centres also have aviaries because birds are known to dulcify fevered minds.
"Childless couples keep birds because they are known to encourage fertility in women,' says Issac.
"My son suffers from depression from time to time. I was advised by a friend to keep birds as they could have a therapeutic influence on him. And we have benefited from the advice. The rigours of bird-keeping save him from the clutches of the blue devils, whenever they visit him," says Ramamurthy.
Senior citizens who are living alone find a friendly presence in birds. A good number of avid bird-keepers are senior citizens.
Goes to prove that birds provide different strokes for different folks.
PRINCE FREDERICK
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Hyderabad
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