Young man from Karnataka travels 25-km to quench thirst of birds in neighbouring Telangana

Riyaz Pasha, a social worker from Bidar district, Karnataka, travels over 25 km to Telangana daily to supply water and grains for birds during summer. His decade-long conservation effort has inspired locals to support wildlife and install water containers

Sangareddy: To the surprise of residents of Degulwadi village on the Telangana-Karnataka border, a young man travels more than 25 kilometres from his village in neighbouring Karnataka carrying water in two pots on his motorcycle, all to quench the thirst of birds and feed them during the harsh summer months.

Riyaz Pasha (30), a resident of Kollur village in Aurad taluk of Bidar district, regularly visits Degulwadi in Nyalkal mandal with water and grains for birds. The son of a farmer, Riyaz’s passion for caring for birds began nearly a decade ago.

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Recalling how it all started, Riyaz said he noticed birds struggling to find water during the summer of 2016 near an agricultural borewell owned by his uncle close to his village.

A water container at the borewell usually remained filled throughout the year due to farming activities, attracting large numbers of birds.

However, during summer, when agricultural operations came to a halt, the container would run dry. Disturbed by the sight of birds searching desperately for water, Riyaz carried water in pots and refilled the container. Soon, the birds began returning to the spot.

Encouraged by the response, he started hanging plastic bottles, coconut shells and other containers on trees in and around his village and regularly filled them with water.

For the past 10 years, Riyaz has been working to help birds survive the scorching summer season. During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, he found that a stream in neighbouring Telangana, which he had earlier observed to be frequented by birds, had completely dried up.

Determined to help, he hung nearly 50 water containers on trees along the stream. Since then, he has been visiting the location every alternate day during March, April and May, and until the onset of the southwest monsoon, carrying water in two pots on his motorcycle to refill the containers.

Apart from water, Riyaz also brings grains such as rice and millets to feed the birds. A postgraduate in Social Work, Riyaz is employed with a non-governmental organisation working in the health sector. He is also actively involved in wildlife conservation, organising awareness programmes for students and rescuing injured birds and wild animals.

“I find immense satisfaction in watching birds quench their thirst and feed after I fill the containers,” Riyaz said.

Vittal, a resident of Degulwadi, said Riyaz’s dedication had inspired many people in the area. “Several residents have started placing water containers around their homes during summer to help birds,” he said.