Birds too are battling dehydration

If you see a bird sitting in the sunlight in this heat you can be sure it is dehydrated and too exhausted to move. With rise in temperatures, harsh rays of the sun and non-availability of water, birds are getting dehydrated and even dying.

It is not just humans who are feeling the sudden onset of heat. Incidents of birds dying from dehydration are on the rise. "We receive more than 50 calls everyday to help birds and most of them are dehydrated. While most of them are rescued, some die due to severe dehydration," said Darshan Desai, head of Prayas, an NGO working for animal welfare.

Desai added that due to rise in concrete structures, water springs and small pools of water are no longer there. Even most of the fountains in the city are dry. Many NGOs in the city are distributing earthen water pots designed for birds to citizens.

They have urged people to fill water in these pots daily, so that birds can have water when temperatures are soaring.

“In 30% cases, birds which are dehydrated, die before we can start any treatment. The largest number of those struck by dehydration are pigeons. The only method to prevent the problem is to develop water sources in multiple areas. This can be done by placing water pots,” Viral Prajapati, member of Nature Club, said. Even If 20 birds drink water from one pot, placing 10000 pots can save the lives of two lakh birds, he added.