If you are not finding much bird activity in your neighbourhood in the summer, it is an indication that the winged visitors are missing two essential things in your place -- feed and water.
With naturally available feeds reduced in summer, it is the ideal time to arrange them for birds along with a bowl of water.
According to R. Mohammed Saleem of Environment Conservation Group, feed and water arranged on the premises of houses can be good relief for a variety of native birds like parakeet, peacock, myna, house sparrow, bulbul, Indian silver bill, crow, pigeon and cuckoo. Other possible visitors are rodents like mongoose and squirrel.
“The water kept for the birds must be clean. Water can be kept in a shallow container on a raised platform like walls and terrace where birds will not be attacked by cats and dogs. The water and feeds like broken rice and grains should ideally kept early in the morning when bird activity is high. Evenings are also ideal time to arrange feed and water,” said Mr. Saleem.
Apart from quenching thirst, birds also make use of the water to cool off their body.
Nature enthusiasts attached to ‘Nest Organisation – Home for feather friends’ has added innovation and thoughts of ‘zero waste’ while arranging feed and water for birds in summer.
Volunteers of the organisation collect used water bottles and other plastic containers strewn in bus stands, railway station and other public places to convert them as feeder bottles for birds.
“Such feeder bottles and water bowls have been installed in various parts of the district. At homes, it is ideal to keep water in an earthenware,” said Sandeep Kumar Jain, vice president of the organisation.
B. Srinath, a resident of Appanaickenpatti near Sulur, said that he has been keeping feed and water for birds for the last three years.
“Several people in the locality have started to keep water and feed for birds,” he said.
