FEEDING THE BIRDS

FEEDING THE BIRDS

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

16/VII/2023

Being in love with nature, doing little things for birds gives so much satisfaction. A few grains and some water are all that they need in this sweltering heat. Plants in the garden give them shade and a place to rest. A drink and a quick dip in the water bowl keeps them cool and clean.

In our colony, people feed roti to birds and they relish it. Sparrows and Bulbuls just love roti. Once in a while Doves and Babblers peck on them, when they run out of options. We also decided to spare a roti everyday for them. A little extra dough is kneaded for making ‘Chiya ki roti’, to be served in the morning along with the grains.

The very first day Roti was a hit amongst the birds frequenting our garden. They came in swarms. Some of them got in a fight for those morsels. Some flew away with roti bits to a little distance to eat in peace.

It reminded me of my childhood when we were given the leftover rotis from the previous day to break into small pieces. Mom made a sweet delicacy called ‘Malida’, Choori or Choorma for some. Fragmenting roti’s was a tedious process. For a change in the breakfast menu, it was worth the effort.

Mom would toss them in a wok, roast them in desi ghee and add generous amounts of sugar with some crushed green cardamoms. Sometimes, if available, she would throw in some dry fruits too. The aroma itself made your mouth water. Now, I am doing it for the birds, sans the sugar and ghee.

After my morning walk, I sit in the veranda to break the roti which these birds conveniently pick depending on the size of their beaks. A bigger piece becomes a bone of contention. They snatch it from each other, finally breaking it into smaller pieces in that duel.

Sometimes their grain feeder goes empty. They raise an alarm on seeing me as if telling me to hurry up. They hop from branch to branch in excitement, expecting me to refill asap. They chirp differently to attract other birds, who are a few trees away to join in for the feast.

There is an issue of ‘Shikras’, who frequent the vicinity. Garden birds immediately create a ruckus on seeing them but kites are bigger, tougher, and adamant. Unsuspecting chicks are most vulnerable. We keep an eye if there are any distress calls. Just in case we can be of some assistance.

Then come other prowlers, the stray cats. A small kitten which slept on our neighbour’s foot mat is now full grown. She comes to hunt these birds. In case she doesn’t get one, she eats their roti. One has seen bulbuls attacking it and raising an ‘anti-cat’ alarm. We have lost a few pots in their skirmish.

The location of the grain feeder and water bowls gives me an opportunity to catch the action. Now, they pose without any fear. Overall, bonhomie exists.

Birds always have ‘sentries’ on high alert, but to escape from the claws & jaws of a cat needs a miracle. Till now, we haven’t seen the ‘cat ambush’ for her ‘daily bird’ successful. We want it to remain that way.

People tell us to feed the cats, but then our fish get into danger. She paws at them and fish jump in panic and fall out of the tank, making a quick snack for her. We lost a couple, till I lowered the water levels.

How can I keep the birds and fish safe from these feline creatures? I wonder!!!!!!!!!

JAI HIND