Thirsty Bird: A Silent Cry for Help in the Summer Heat

 

Thirsty Bird: A Silent Cry for Help in the Summer Heat
Text & Photo by Ashok Karan | ashokkaran.blogspot.com

While sitting on my balcony, I noticed a small, fragile bulbul perched on a wire about five meters away. The little creature looked utterly exhausted—its beak slightly open, chest rising with heavy breaths, seeking relief in the narrow strip of shade it had found.

I quickly picked up my camera with a long zoom lens and managed to capture a telling shot—one that speaks volumes about the harsh reality faced by birds and wildlife during these sweltering summer days.

As temperatures continue to rise, the environment becomes increasingly hostile—not just for us, but for all forms of life. Birds, in particular, suffer in silence. Many water bodies have dried up, and the searing heat combined with humidity has made survival extremely difficult. In regions like Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat, even humans are seen scrambling for water from nearly dried-up wells, often leading to conflicts.

Experts have linked these harsh conditions to climate change, which is making extreme weather events more frequent and intense. While we can seek shelter indoors or travel to cooler places, birds have fewer options. They seek shade, reduce activity during the hottest hours, and use techniques like gular fluttering—a form of panting—to cool themselves through evaporative heat loss, similar to how humans sweat.

Some birds migrate to cooler areas, while others simply endure, often with limited success. Dehydration and heat stress weaken them, leaving them vulnerable to predators. It's heartbreaking but real.

If you have pet birds, it’s important to help them cope too:

1.     Keep them in cool, shaded, and quiet areas.

2.     Respect their space—limit handling and be gentle around their cage.

3.     Avoid warm foods and reduce their time outside the cage.

4.     Adjust lighting to reduce the length of their “day.”

And for wild birds—something as simple as placing a bowl or saucer of clean water on your balcony, terrace, or garden can make a big difference. It may be a small gesture, but to a thirsty bird, it's a lifesaving one.

Let’s do our bit to help the voiceless endure the summer. Every drop counts.

📸 In the picture: An exhausted bulbul, panting silently under the summer sun.

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