Water for birds in scorching heat

WATER FOR BIRDS IN SCORCHING HEAT - June 2018

Last month we talked about a lovely effort by some children on food and water shelter for birds at home. There was an image which showed clay pots with water along with bird feed in a shelter.

That idea inspired me and the heat has been high in Lahore since the past ten days. It was not necessary to build a shelter and I went for a simpler plan. I thought just placing clay pots with water in our lawn under the shelter of trees would be good for the birds.

It needs to be emphasized that caring for free birds around us whom we have not kept for ourselves in cage, has a greater reward in Islam. In fact, birds should not be kept in cages at all though there could be exceptions to this.

Now let's talk about clay pot. Getting a clay pot was not like buying a toothpaste or bread. I had to go to several shops in the area but it was not available in the town though they told me I could get it from a narrow and long market adjacent to our town where small shopkeepers do their daily trade.

Finally, someone guided me to the relevant shop for utensils made of clay. I decided to buy a flat clay pot like the ones in which 'dahi waala' sells dahi.

When filled with water and placed in the lawn under the trees, initially the sparrows did not drink from it. It took more than one day before sparrows started drinking from it. So the purpose is achieved.

However the sparrows are not readily eating from another clay pot with bird feed placed in it. They like to just drink water and peck at the grass and soil of the lawn.

Many people may not have lawns in their houses. They can place a container of water on their roof-tops or balcony under shades. The satisfaction which one draws from such simple deeds is beyond any words. May Allah accept our good deeds and forgive us for our transgressions - Aameen!

- S Roman Ahsan.