A few days back I had gone for some urgent work to my relative’s house in Greater Kailash. After parking my car and walking up to the house, I saw a fledgling crow lying nearly immobile on the scorching sidewalk as the relentless sun beat down on it’s feathers—one of countless birds struggling to endure an unbearable heat wave of Delhi- with temperatures having soared up to 47 degrees Celsius.
An early start to summer has brought record temperatures and made life a misery for humans, birds and animals alike, with climate experts warning that climate change is making such conditions more intense and more frequent.
The Charity Birds Hospital in Chandni Chowk, near the Red Fort, has treated around 500 birds over the past month, many weak and severely dehydrated, with some suffering from broken wings after falling from trees.
According to the hospital authorities, they receive daily at least 40 to 50 dehydrated birds. The bird hospital is one of the biggest of its kind in Delhi and was established by members of the Jain faith—an ancient Indian religion that preaches non-violence and love for all creatures, great and small.
We can in our small way help these thirsty and hungry birds. One of the most effective ways is to provide them with water. You can place shallow dishes or earthen pots to bird baths in your garden, balcony or backyard, but ensure that you keep them clean and refill them regularly. Providing water for birds in summer is always a brilliant idea, not just to drink but for the birds to have a nice bath in. For their food, we can keep crushed peanuts, millet or more.
We need to make efforts as above and ensure that the birds survive. Birds eat 400–500 tons of insects per year. Birds like crows and vultures scavenge carcasses, reducing the spread of diseases such as rabies and distemper. Birds disperse seeds, spreading plants into new areas. Birds such as hummingbirds help pollinate plants.
