Thiruvananthapuram: Forest department has urged people to spare a thought on providing water to all including the avian species.
The appeal came amidst reports of deaths of birds due to the shortage of water from different parts of the state.
Forest Information Bureau in a communiqué said that summers are becoming harsher and unbearably hot year by year.
With the mercury soaring to almost 40 degrees across many places now, it will be a humanitarian gesture to provide birdbath that is a shallow, wide-mounted earthen terracotta bowl with water, under the shade of courtyards and rooftops, window sills, in gardens, backyards, balconies, or any other befitting place.
The rising temperature increases the mortality of the avifauna. Such simple measures can help reduce bird mortality to a great extent.
The birdbaths need to clean without any soap or detergent and replaced with fresh water every day. Birds use these not only for drinking but also for bathing and removing parasites from their feathers. The birdbaths can either be placed on a stand or can be at the ground level, said the communiqué.
Currently, social forestry wing of the KFD undertakes bird conservation initiatives, and assistant conservators of each district will lead awareness campaigns aimed at saving precious birdlife during the hot summer months.
Especially the youth will be motivated to undertake this initiative in their homes and respective institutions, it said.
