Birds, People And The Urban Dilemma

The hundreds of varieties of pigeons, chicken, ducks and other domesticated birds exemplify the thousands of years of mutualistic association between people and birds. Undeterred by the massive transformation in people’s attitudes, lifestyles and habitation, the association has persisted. What makes the association more interesting is that it exists even in the most urbanised areas among citizens who are otherwise far-removed from nature.

People who live in cities do tolerate birds. They are however selective. Socio-cultural and economic backgrounds play varying roles in determining attitudes towards birds. While many do not like to see a roosting owl or a pigeon nesting in their vicinity, they would not hesitate to buy an expensive parrot. There are also those who go out of their way to feed hundreds of pigeons, parakeets and other birds every day in their terraces and backyards.

Birds and people

During the nascent years of Care Earth Trust, we were approached by residents with rescued birds. These birds were exhausted, sick or injured. Some were chicks that had fallen off the nests. Others were pet-cagebirds that had accidentally escaped or were wantonly released. Native birds that fully recovered were released. Birds that were permanently disabled, and exotic pet-cagebirds, were not released. They had to be sheltered.

Overwhelmed by the steady inflow of rescued birds, Care Earth Trust started the Dax Memorial Animal Rehabilitation and Resource Center (DMARRC). DMARRC is well-equipped to handle rescued birds and in providing other services. Services provided include guiding citizens in rescuing and rehabilitating birds, and counselling owners of pet-cagebirds who contemplate abandoning them. In doing this, we gained firsthand knowledge about the birds most commonly in distress, the most sought-after pet-cagebirds and also Chennai citizens’ attitudes towards neighborhood birds.

Between September 2000 and August 2024, we handled 543 birds belonging to 47 species. In addition, we advised at least 680 callers. Almost all calls were from residents in Chennai. Our guidance and counselling benefitted a wide range of citizens, many being women, and 62 species of hapless birds. Cumulatively, we have dealt with 70 species of birds. Of these 76% are native, 14% exotic pet-cagebirds and 10% farm and poultry birds including an emu.

Two broad patterns have emerged. First, 79% of the rescued birds belonged to just 13 species. Second, 13 species were the reasons for 81% of the calls we received. Sixty-two per cent overlap between the two suggests that eight species of birds, namely, common pigeon, rose-ringed parakeet, house crow, Asian koel, barn owl, common myna, Indian kite and budgerigar are most commonly in distress.

Pigeons in distress

Common pigeon is the most distressed native bird. This pigeon, originally called blue rock pigeon, is the first bird to have been domesticated and introduced locally by humans. The species is native to India. Nevertheless, due to the documented history of domestication and introductions, the pigeon is treated as ‘feral’. As a result, it does not enjoy the legal protection that other species of native birds enjoy in the country. Twenty-nine per cent of callers sought help in dealing with the pigeon. Sadly, majority of them were keen on getting rid of nests with eggs and chicks from their window sills, balconies or a room that was left unused for a while.

Pigeons have adapted well to urban infrastructure where they readily find microhabitats as those in rocky cliffs. They are prolific breeders and once they find a location to safely nest and lay eggs, they can raise up to five broods per year, reusing the same spot. Once paired, pigeons can live together for eight to twelve years and contribute to the surge in the size of local flocks. Minor changes in the building architecture can go a long way in reducing direct conflicts and undue distress.

Emotions outweigh reasoning

Citizens also seek the removal of barn owls from window sills, balconies, garages and even gardens. The owl is resented purely out of prejudice, fear and lack of awareness. Barn owls are the most widely distributed species of birds in the world. They provide unconditional service to us by way of controlling rats. Farmers in Tamil Nadu cleverly lure barn owls into fields for biological control of rats.

Koels and crows have cultural values and thus arouse a lot of emotions. Many citizens are not aware of the fact that the Asian koel is a brood-parasite that lays eggs in crow nests. Soon after the crows discover the ploy, they drive the immature koels out of the nest. At this stage koels are normally ready to fend for themselves. The biological parents occasionally feed the displaced young koels. Unaware of this, citizens attempt to rescue young koels that are chased and sometimes attacked by crows.

House crows commonly get entangled in thoughtlessly abandoned strings used for flying kites. These strings that form dangling webs in the canopy of trees are deadly snares for birds, especially house crows, that tend to nest or roost in tree canopies. House crows also frequently get electrocuted while perched on overhead power-lines or transformers. Chicks that are sick or undernourished, fall out of nests. They rarely survive.

Common mynas are naturally hole-nesting birds. Due to scarcity of natural tree-holes, they nest behind air conditioners’ outdoor units and within other unsafe nooks and crannies in buildings and also precariously in coconut palms. This results in chicks falling off the nests. Indian kites have the habit of soaring and when they suddenly dive towards a source of food or a perch, accidentally crash into cell-phone towers and high-rise buildings injuring themselves due to their large wingspan.

Pet-cagebirds fuel anxiety

Urban citizens are often in dilemma when they have to deal with exotic pet-cagebirds. Such birds are not only expensive but also vulnerable to theft and predation when released. There is another lesser-known danger. Released exotic pet-cagebirds have naturalized in many parts of the world and some species have become invasive to the point of eliminating native birds. Exotic bird invasions have not occurred in India for reasons yet to be fully understood. However, one highly probable reason is the abundance of crows. Crows do not tolerate exotic birds which they attack and kill. They may thus be playing indirect roles in structuring urban bird communities.

Parakeets have been kept as pets for thousands of years in India. The most commonly kept species is however the rose-ringed parakeet. Rose-ringed parakeets rescued in Chennai are mostly pet-cagebirds that accidentally flew out or were wantonly released by the owners. Wanton release has been more frequent lately since citizens have become aware that it is illegal to keep them. Heightened awareness leads to paranoia (a profound statement borrowed from Count Dracula), and many desperately seek help or guidance in rehabilitating their pet-caged parakeets.

Budgerigar, the popular ‘lovebird’ is a small Australian parrot widely bred to sport brilliantly colored plumage. It easily adapts to cages and is the most affordable exotic parrot. Unfortunately, it is also the most commonly abandoned pet-cagebird. Thirty-seven per cent of birds in distress are budgerigars. Reasons for abandoning budgerigars are often either relocating homes, someone at home is sick, neighbors or landlords are objecting or mate died.

Way forward

Chennai has had a long history of trade in exotic birds. A 2023 book titled Women, Environment and Networks of Empire: Elizabeth Gwillim and Mary Symonds in Madras edited by Anna Winterbottom and colleagues has provided evidence for trade in exotic birds, such as cockatoo and cassowary, in the markets of erstwhile Madras, more than two hundred years ago. While the fascination for exotic pet-cagebirds is not likely to wane, it would be better if urban citizens exercised adequate caution while choosing a species of bird as pet-cagebird. By doing so, unwarranted distress to both people and birds can be avoided.

Many species of native birds have locally adapted to home gardens and even apartments. Some species readily accept nest boxes that are provided. Over years we have learnt that in addition to the fabled house sparrow, birds such as scaly-breasted munia, Indian silverbill, sunbirds, red-vented bulbul, ashy prinia and tailorbird do not hesitate to visit and nest in gardens and ‘green’ balconies. By nurturing such birds, citizens can avoid undue expenditure, anxiety and distress, thereby guaranteeing a win-win and sustainable bird-people association. Birds have not shunned people. Twenty percent of the world’s species of birds have locally adapted to urban environments and people. How people reciprocate matters and can be crucial for the persistence of many species of urban birds.

(Published under Creative Commons from Mongabay-India. Read the original article here)