Feeding the Birds
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| A Red- tailed Bulbul feeding in the garden |
Putting out some bird food for the birds in one’s garden or
terrace is a wonderful way to give something back to nature and also to fill surroundings with sweet song of birds all day. Occasionally they do
make a racket but then which sweet creature including little children do not.
Premixed bird seed is not available in Indian market to
my knowledge but a variety of other foods that humans too use are available and
one can prepare one’s own mix easily. millets are the most popular grain people
use here to feed birds and there is also a special grass seed just for birds called kangani that is much tinier than millets and a favorite of bird
lovers. My own practice is to prepare a five kg mix of millets, kangani, white
and black sesame seeds, yellow and brown mustard, crushed peanuts, crushed
wheat and some washed split lentils. I have added sun flower seeds to the mix
too but usually avoid it because it is expensive here. This is in line with my belief that good food either for birds or humans does not have to be expensive. The five kilogram mix lasts
for over two months. To this is added
leftovers like steamed rice that the sparrows just love. Occasionally there are
bread crumbs too although we tend to save those for our own use since they are
required in a number of recipes. I do not feed birds daily but keep missing
days so that the birds do not become dependent and also hunt for other foods
such as insects, fruits and stuff so that their health is not compromised by
human feeding.
A red tailed Bulbul has become quite a friend and it waits
for me most mornings on a tree branch. She is the first to jump on the seeds.
She is followed later by a variety of other birds including large flocks of
sparrows. Today I took my camera along to the corner of the garden where the
bird feeding tray is suspended and snapped a photo of the Bulbul for this note.
Comments
I like the photo and the bird.
I used to feed birds in my backyard, but birds came and dropped seeds all over, and those seeds grew and became quite subborn thick grass and plants. It was menacing although I love sunflowers.
About feeding steamed rice, I think it attracts rodents.
Yes I too get weeds and thick grass in my lawn but I keep pulling them out. The rice is put quite high up on the boundary wall and the birds finish it off by evening unless I put out a lot, but thanks for warning I shall be careful to put only a little of it out at a time. It is not very often because if only a little is left we try to finish it off and if it is a lot we keep it in the fridge and add it to the next days rice. We have rice everyday for lunch.
there used to be a lot of rodents in this area and I was compelled to use rat poison inside and out in the garden too although I detest killing but when they are causing damage one has to protect oneself and one's goods. One rat or mouse once ruined one of my best tweed coats and then on I just get rid of them. Fortunately though now there are cats in the neighborhood and we have very few rodents.
Yes birds are indeed sweet little things and delight the soul. I think a garden, countryside or forest will be near dead without them.
Thanks, I'm thinking of changing my profile photo again, but have to take a few new photos first. : )