Make your house bird-friendly!

Even in a city, and a landscape of bricks and mortar, you can create a haven for birds around you with just a little effort.

The principle is to provide the birds their requirements of food, water, nesting sites, protection from predators and shelter from the elements.

Food

Birds like to feed on kitchen scraps, leftovers, boiled rice and bread in addition to their usual fare. By providing these suitably, you can bring the birds closer to you. The food can be provided regularly on platforms known as bird tables.

When making a bird table, provide lips on the edges so that birds can perch on them and the food is not blown or rolled off. Provide gaps on these lips to drain away rainwater. Place the table in a position where cats cannot attack the birds. Remember that other animals like rats and squirrels will also be interested in the food you place for the birds!

Bird feeders are another means of providing food for birds. These are essentially mesh-bags containing larger items of food such as nuts. The birds enjoy perching on the bags and feeding on the food within through the mesh.

You can use your imagination to offer food in other ways. You could hang a split coconut by a thread from your bird table. Sugar syrup and honey will attract nectar-feeding birds.

Nesting Places

Birds need safe places for nesting which will protect them and their eggs and chicks. Such nesting places are in great demand during the nesting season, when many birds need them at the same time. So if you provide suitable places for nesting, you help the birds.

Nest boxes are basically wooden boxes with an entrance hole that will exclude predators such as crows. They may also be open-fronted—birds like flycatchers use such boxes.

You can make a simple nest box by providing a small hole in a hollow piece of bamboo between two nodes. This makes a cosy nest box for small birds.

As with tables and feeders, nest boxes need to be placed at the correct location if birds are to use them. They can be hung on trees or walls or placed on posts.

Water

Bird baths are shallow basins from which birds can get water for drinking or bathing. They are available in several attractive designs which will suit the décor of your home.

Plants and Trees

Try to plant a tree—if you do, you will be planting the equivalent of a supermarket for your local bird population.

A tree is to birds what a city is to human beings. Trees provide food, nesting sites, roosting places, and perches from which birds can sing.

Some trees such as the Indian Coral are particular favourites with the birds. It is believed that if you take a few bird-friendly steps, the population of birds around your home will double. Then, you and your family can enjoy watching the birds, photographing them, and learning about their lives. You will also have the pleasure of the company of beautiful birds and their sweet music.

Streaked Laughing Thrush

Appearance: The Streaked Laughing Thrush is about the size of a bulbul. It is a grey and reddish brown bird with pale streaks. Found in (place and season): This bird is seen both in the Binsar resort and at Manipur Villa. It uses the bird baths in the resort. It hops about on the ground. Some details: The Streaked Laughing Thrush lives in small flocks and has a variety of calls.

Redbilled Blue Magpie

Appearance: The Redbilled Blue Magpie is a bird of striking appearance about the size of a pigeon. It is a blue bird with a black and white head. It has a very long tail. Its bill is red in colour. Found in (place and season): The Redbilled Blue Magpie moves around in small groups. It may be seen at Manipur Villa, in the Binsar resort and in the vicinity of these places. Some details: The Redbilled Blue Magpie is a relative of the crows. It eats a variety of food and sometimes feeds on the ground.

Longtailed Shrike

Appearance: This is a grey and white bird with a black mask across its eyes. Its sides and underbelly are rusty. Found in (place and season): In Munnar this bird is commonly seen throughout the year. It is found on perches over tea bushes, including near the entrance to the resort. It is mostly seen singly. Some details: Shrikes feed on insects and small animals. They have the habit of storing food by impaling it on thorns. Hence they are called butcherbirds.

Streaked Laughing Thrush

Appearance: The Himalayan Whistling Thrush is a dark blue bird with spots on its neck and shoulders. It has a bright yellow bill. Found in (place and season): This is a bird found usually on the ground. It occurs near streams in the Himalaya. Some details: The call of this thrush is a long-drawn whistle. It is extraordinarily human sounding.