Let the birds fly pretty - Why birds are not meant to be kept in a cage or as pets.

 Whenever we go out of the city for a short break or for a long weekend trip, we wish to see nature in all its beauty. We look for trees, animals and birds. We see the birds soaring in the skies freely, in their natural habitat going about their busy day of looking for food. When we see these birds in the sky, we feel a sense of satisfaction and a tinge of envy, for we look at their freedom and hope we were free like them. We wish to be lucky enough to fly like them, to just take off for a few hours and be one with the wind. Why then, do we cage birds at our homes? 

Birds are meant to fly, to be with the wind, to have a social group of other beautiful birds and fly in formations. Yet, for some reason, birds are caged and sold as pets. The tradition of keeping birds as pets is not new. Many emperors and Kings have chained eagles and vultures as pets. Many Queens and princesses have held small, elegant birds captive. Any time a bird looked majestic, they were caged. 

Today, while some birds can be freed, some cannot be left in the wild. Some birds need to be kept captive because they are bred in captivity for generations. These birds are labeled "exotic birds" in the pet market. Exotic birds can be freely traded and there are no laws to stop their trading. The reason is, their parents do not possess survival skills and their children likely will not develop them either. Survival skills are passed on from parent to child as the child learns to find their way in the world. If a family of birds is captive for generations, the parents have no survival skills to pass on. Examples of such birds would include certain species of parrots like love birds, cockatiels among others. 

According to the Indian Wildlife Act 1972, certain species of birds like Parakeets, Owls, Indian Peafowls, etc. are prohibited to be kept as pets. Yet, in many parts of India, they are illegally captured and traded. The bird trade is a large network and exploits the gullibility and ignorance of the customers. People buy these birds, not knowing it is illegal to possess them. If they get caught, they will have to pay a huge fine or spend some time in jail. Naturally, if people are aware of these laws, they won't be in violation of them. But the lack of awareness contributes to the lifelong captivity of creatures who would otherwise enjoy their freedom. 

Talking about how birds survive in captivity, there are varied experiences that can be brought to light. While some birds, like eagles and vultures, are said to thrive in captivity, even they are noticed to show signs of anxiety. Every bird has different environmental and dietary needs. Some are frugivores, some insectivores, some omnivores, some carnivores. The owners do not research their bird's requirements and give them food that destroys their intestines. Cooked food, Cerelac, vegetarian diet to carnivore birds, are some of the common diet mistakes made by the owners. By the time these birds are confiscated or rushed to the vet, it is too late. 

Owners often do not pay attention to the size of the cage. They place these birds in a smaller cage and the birds do not get enough area to walk two steps. As these birds grow, their feathers need space. When the birds realise that the cage has no space for their wings, they bite them off. There have been cases of severe self-mutilation because of lack of space and anxiety. Did you know? Birds are not meant to socialise with humans as it causes them severe anxiety and possibly death due to anxiety and shock. 

Since birds are essentially creatures of the wild, they can transfer diseases to humans if kept in proximity for long. These zoonotic diseases commonly affect the young, the old and people diagnosed with chronic diseases. Some of these diseases show no symptoms in birds but can affect humans severely. Pet birds can be carriers of these diseases while not falling sick themselves. Examples include Campylobacteriosis, Allergic Alveolitis, Cryptococcus, Histoplasmosis, Avian Tuberculosis and Chlamydiosis. 

There are so many reasons birds should not be kept in captivity. If one is a bird enthusiast and wants to see birds around their house, here are some tips to make that happen - 

• Keep water bowls and food bowls, curated for all kinds of birds 

• Create safe nesting spaces for them. Plant more trees 

• Give them shelter during heavy rains 

• Ensure their young ones are getting enough food 

Let the birds fly free and bless the pretty skies with their pretty wings. Life is meant for freedom and adventures, not for cages and anxiety. Let's love birds while respecting their wishes. After all, sometimes love means letting go, isn't it? 

Authored by Praanjali Shukla, Volunteer @ PfA Wildlife Rescue & Conservation Centre, Bangalore.