A rooftop haven in Nalgonda: One man’s 15-year mission to feed hundreds of birds

Nalgonda: As cities trade green cover for concrete, birds are finding it harder to find food, water and shelter. On a rooftop in Nalgonda, however, hundreds of them find a safe haven every day, thanks to the quiet, consistent effort of one man.

For the past 15 years, Mohammad Ghaffar Khan has been feeding birds and providing drinking water on his rooftop – a daily ritual born out of his love for nature.

Khan, who runs a consultancy firm in the city, has turned his rooftop into a sanctuary. He has set up feeders and water pots that attract hundreds of birds – sparrows, pigeons and several other species – between 7 am and 6 pm every day. The chirping of the birds, locals say, fills the neighbourhood with life.

To strengthen his effort, Khan recently ordered 12 specially designed bird feeders online for around Rs 2,200. Each feeder can hold up to 1 kg of grain and has four openings that allow birds to feed comfortably. He replenishes the grain in all 12 feeders once every four days and ensures clean drinking water is always available, especially crucial during the scorching summer months.

Maintaining the feeders takes regular effort and expense, but for Khan, it is a small price to pay.”The joy of watching them return every day outweighs the financial burden,” he says, adding that the peace and satisfaction he gets is incomparable.

Khan sees bird protection not as a solitary act but as a shared social responsibility. Concerned over birds dying without adequate food, water or shelter, he urges others to do their bit.”People should set up feeders and water pots on their rooftops rather than leaving the task to a few individuals,” he appeals.

His 15-year-long commitment has not gone unnoticed in Nalgonda. What started as a personal act of compassion is now inspiring neighbours and locals to take small steps of their own for bird conservation.