ANJALI YADAV | Dehradun
As temperatures continue to soar in Dehradun, many residents have started keeping water bowls outside their homes, balconies and terraces to help birds. However, veterinarians have warned that unclean and stagnant water in such bowls may harm birds aside from leading to mosquito breeding.
A senior veterinary officer, Dr Vivekanand Sati stated that dirty water might increase the risk of bacterial and fungal infections among birds during summer. “The intention behind keeping water bowls for birds in the scorching summer days is good, but most of them often forget to clean them regularly. If food particles, bird droppings, insects or dust fall into the water, bacteria and fungi can grow quickly. So the bowls should be cleaned properly every day and filled with fresh water,” he said.
Sati further warned that stagnant water might also become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which might trigger vector-borne diseases for residents and animals living nearby.
He said that birds are more vulnerable to dehydration than animals and humans during summer and clean drinking water becomes very important for them to survive the extreme heat conditions. “Any open container should be used to ensure that birds drink from it easily, but health and hygiene matter a great deal. Metal or food-grade plastic containers are safer, while low-quality plastic should be avoided,” he added.
Sati also advised residents to place water bowls in shaded areas and avoid keeping wet bird feed nearby. “It can attract insects and create unhygienic conditions,” he added.
Many residents said that they are noticing an increased bird activity as the city reels under the heat wave conditions. Shobhana Gairola, who keeps water bowls outside her home, said that she had started doing it to help birds cope with the extreme heat. “I refill the bowls regularly, but now I will pay more attention to cleaning them after learning that dirty water may spread infections,” she said.
