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The bird cage

Left to me and to the Government of India no Indian birds would be in cages. This is not only illegal, but destroys the environment and depletes forests. Every being on this planet -- except humans -- is here for a specific purpose. For instance, sparrows and other small birds eat insects that would otherwise destroy the land; humming birds pollinate and help spread flowers; the hornbill is the only bird that can spread the bargat (banyan) tree by eating and spreading its seeds. As birds spread seeds, forests remain intact. For every parakeet or munia that is kept in a tiny cage in a house, there is one tree less in India.

All these birds are brought illegally by trains. The station-masters and loaders are paid to look the other way while poachers who have attacked the hills and forests of the Northeast, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar bring in thousands of little birds packed in small boxes to cities. Sixty per cent die on the way due to broken wings and legs, thirst or fright.

Many people keep lovebirds, budgerigars and cockatoos and their explanation for not releasing them is that they will die as they are foreign birds. For such selfish and greedy people, here are some tips on how to keep them:

• The bigger the cage the better. All cages must have space for birds to spread their wings and flutter about. Square cages are better than round ones. They should be both high and wide.
• Birds need different shapes and diameters of perch in order to exercise their feet. So put different perches in a wide cage. Use wooden perches that do not chip as it can hurt the feet.
• If you have only one bird you can even try hanging a mirror in one corner. But do not keep single birds. All of them live in groups. Keeping one alone is doubly cruel.
• Line the cage at the bottom with newspaper so that the paper can be easily removed and the cage cleaned daily.
• Place a proper container of water and not a small raggedy bowl. The bird might like to splash in it. Birds do not bathe in dirty water, so change the water everyday.
• If you keep lovebirds, make nesting boxes for them.
• Do not smoke in the same room or keep the bird in bright sunlight, in noisy areas or in a draught.
• Birds need sleep. Cover the cage at night with a thin sheet but leave enough space for some air to prevent suffocation.
• Thoroughly washed fruit should be given every day. Natural fruits, even the fruit of the peepul tree, is good. Cabbage stalks, carrot pieces, small pieces of chapati, boiled rice, a bit of hardboiled egg, seeds like millet, sprouts, corn, green chillies, watermelon, mango, worms, small insects -- these are all part of the diet that keeps birds healthy. Parakeets like seeds with high oil content like sunflower.

Maneka Gandhi is Union minister of state for statistics and programme implementation.