The Momma Clan

Friends, it would be exciting if indeed I wake up one fine morning as this delicate and lovable winged creature that we see around daily.

You must be wondering what kind of a bird I would be, how would I look? and so on. Well, I’m just a humble little bird, brown in color, that’s commonly found when you look outside the window. So here goes my story…

Life Of A Bird

What To Expect :

Today I woke up at the crack of the dawn, in my tiny nest perched on a tree, located in a city garden. Together with fellow birds, I flew around in search of food and water.

We went over the buildings to spot the food cereals and water kept in the bowls over the walls for us. We also plucked the lawn grasses for building our nests.

By now the sun had risen, and a lot of people had gathered up in the garden. Children were playing around, youngsters jogging and exercising, people in the middle and old age groups doing brisk walks or yoga.

After a while, I flew off and stopped over the temple top, situated nearby.

Then I moved towards a busy market. Here I even managed to sit on a cap worn by a man holding his kid, who watched me with glee. Now I flew off to a big hoarding to rest on.

For the entire day, I had a hard time being chased by the cats and dogs, whenever I flew closer to the ground which wasn’t as troublesome as it sounds. From here I flew on and on until I landed on the tomb of a mosque.

How Everything Changes :

Unlike men, I could sit on top of a church, a mosque, or a temple without being judged or any objections thrown towards me.

“Panchhi nadiya pawan ke jhokhe

koi sarhad na inhe roke…

Sarhad insaano ke liye hai,

socho tumne aur maine…

kya paya insaan hoke”

A very famous song from the Hindi movie ‘Border’.

Flying across man-made boundaries, a bird’s life is indeed a blessed one.

I’m happy as long as there is enough green vegetation around, and enough lakes, ponds, and streams around for my survival.

How To Face It :

Friends, after living a life as a bird, I discovered three aspects about it, which demand immediate attention and awareness.

Understanding Common Bird Behavior :

• Bathing in water or dust –  

Birds often do this to either maintain moisture or to remove external parasites.

• Anting –   

Over 200 species of birds have been spotted putting ants in their feathers. This is called anting, to soothe a bird’s skin irritation.

• Courtship and mating –  Nest-building, singing out more tunes, bowing or flapping their wings, and sharing seeds, through these ways male birds impress the female ones. Most birds only mate for one season, while some will mate for life. 

• Molting –

Birds need new feather threads too. They will shed most of their feathers because they wear out and fade, hence it’s called molting.

Threats To Birds :

• Loss of habitat –

Deforestation, drainage of wetlands, planting of non-native trees, loss of areas to urban development, and intensive agriculture threaten the birds.

• Loss of conservation –

Birds are critical to our ecosystem. But they get killed by invasive species, hunting, and trapping. Over 100 species of Indian birds are on the verge of extinction. 

• Collisions –

Other causes of birds’ deaths are; use of chemicals in agricultural lands; spillage of oils and marine trash in the sea; collisions at the power lines, wind turbines, or communication towers; global warming also causes loss of habitat and disturbance of migratory cycles.

How To Save Them :

Arrange a birdbath – 

Every household needs to provide birds with water tubs to drink and bathe in, especially during summers.

• Support bird conservation –

Support birds by joining bird conservation NGOs and advocating for bird habitat protection at the local, state, national or international level.

• Protect bird habitat – 

Native vegetation provides food, cover, and nesting sites for migratory and local birds too. Thus, afforestation is necessary to be implemented everywhere. 

• Stop chemical fertilizers – 

Pesticides, herbicides, and some fertilizers are harmful to birds and humans also. Insects provide necessary food for birds and compost keeps the soil healthy.

Friends, the world will become a much healthier and happier place to live in, if we can care about one of the most vulnerable and beautiful creatures on our planet.

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