No, Stop! No one is asking you to ditch your mobile phones just yet. But several other changes in our lifestyle can help save the avian population. You may install bird boxes, teach your canine friends not to chase them around, give them water to wash or drink, and set up a bird feeder in your balcony. When these small acts of kindness turn into regular habits, you’ll make a difference for sure.
But, we are not here to talk about what you can do, but what you shouldn’t do to help the birds live longer and happier. The merrier they sound in the morning, the better will our mornings be, isn’t it? So let’s not waste any more time and get down straight to the point.
Minimise the effects of radiation pollution
There, we said it! Now you can grab your mobile phones close to your heart (not literally), as we are coming for it next.
Researches have concluded that electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phone towers, WiFi, and other broadcasting transmitters has a significant impact on insects and birds.
Now, it doesn’t mean that if you take your mobile phone close to a sparrow, it will drop dead. No! But the radiation may damage their eggs and embryos.
It also affects the mobility of the birds that use magnetic navigation to travel. In some cases, radiation pollution causes psychological stress in the birds. Oh my god, bird suicide? Well, not really. But it makes them confused, bewildered, ultimately losing their way.
So what should we do? Many of you may already be sweating over ditching your phones. But you need not do that. Mobile phones are even dearer than life partners these days (yes, literally). No wonder the rate of divorces is increasing!
Getting back to birds, you can collaborate with bird conservation societies to create radiation-free breeding grounds for them. You can also protect existing bird habitats by reducing deforestation, cleaning ponds and other water bodies and creating awareness. You can even reduce the radiation pollution by using your mobile phones properly:
- Use text messages to communicate, instead of calling every time.
- When outside, try to keep your mobile internet off.
- Use a single SIM card, as multiple SIM cards increase the amount of radiation.
- Do not use your mobile phone in places with weak signals. The radiation gets stronger then.
- Reduce unnecessary talking over the mobile phone and use wired phones instead.
Enough with radiation! Let us give you some other habits that need a revamp to support the bird population.
Plastics and birds – The forbidden relationship
Plastics are no less than a virus. It is a virus that disguises itself as a boon, a convenience, a friend that we all believe. But it is a virus, nonetheless. Every single species is affected by plastic pollution, and birds are not an exception. As plastic items float in the ocean waters, seabirds tend to mistake them for prey, ingest and die on them.
Sharp objects like straws and small parts of plastic items rupture the birds’ internal organs, causing instant death. But it is the plastic bags that are more dangerous. They choke the birds or create feelings of starvation, as the birds slowly die a painful death. Sometimes, they even feed the plastic to their chicks, which die. Their underdeveloped organs get damaged by the chemical coating of plastic.
So you see how birds and plastics have a ‘forbidden-love’ kind of relationship?
If you wish to save them, you should reduce your plastic consumption rate. There is no other alternative. Already the ban on plastic straws and cotton buds are driving people crazy. But it was necessary by all means. If you want your mornings to be filled with bird songs, you may need to self-ban other plastic materials too. Choose glass and metal straws instead of plastic. They are heavier than plastic, true, but they can be lighter on the birds’ lives. Further, they are reusable and washable, and so much better than the plastic straws in so many ways.
Go the ‘paperless’ way!
The less paper you use for your day-to-day activities, the more trees will live. And the more trees live, the more birds will survive. The trees make up forests that are the primary habitat of the birds. As we have taken over every bit of land in the cities, the hills and forests are where the birds have taken refuge. If we take that away from them, they will never find another home. Of course, you won’t want that. Although paper is one of the alternatives for plastic packaging, we can always cut down writing paper usage and go digital. It will create a significant difference in society, and on the forests as well.
Reduce your carbon footprint
It always comes down to global warming and reducing the carbon footprint. You may have grown bored of it by now, didn’t you? Well, if you are so bored, why not take a stand and do it?
- Ditch your car for a day and take the bike
- Switch off the lights before leaving a room
- Do not use the AC unnecessarily
- Walk more, drive less
- Recycle and reuse day-to-day stuff instead of throwing them away
All these little things will make big difference to the life of birds that may be hampered by major climatic changes – a by-product of global warming.
Can you think of any other lifestyle changes that can help the birds? Please let us know in the comments so that we can hold a discussion.
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