Why Do People Cage Birds?
Let me try and guess some reasons why people catch birds and lock them inside a cage.
- Birds (like pigeons and parrots) are harmful, hence people want to protect themselves by locking birds in a cage.
- Birds are soooooo beautiful and soooooo cute. In order to permanently immerse their eyes in all that beauty, people lock them in cages and keep it close to them. By keeping the caged birds in balcony or foyer, others can also immerse in all the colors and finery.
- Since the house is silent, birds help add some sound. The constant chirping of birds is like music (to their ears).
- Caged birds are a status symbol. If they can afford more birds, they will seem rich.
- Even if they are not rich, they showcase birds so that others can get fooled by assuming that the inmates are rich.
- Birds are decorative pieces like curtains, statues, etc.
- People want to protect birds from dangerous prey like eagles, vultures, kites, and more importantly other humans by locking them in cages.
- Since kids/spouse/parents have left, and they are alone, having birds gives them some company.
- Symbolically, they are telling everyone that this is how they will treat other creatures, and more importantly other human beings.
- Since other people are controlling them in office, homes, etc. they take revenge by caging birds and feeling a sadistic pleasure of controlling the destiny of (at least those) birds.
- By feeding birds with food and water, they feel as if they are parents. Or better, they think they are philanthropic. Besides, birds cannot run away like kids as they are caged.
- People can talk to birds as long as they want – birds are good listeners, unlike other people. And they don’t argue back.
- People want to make a statement of their superiority over birds.
- They have nothing better to do in their life. And their imagination has totally failed them.
What else?
Around my street alone, there are three houses that display many birds locked inside small cages. I wonder what kind of sadistic pleasure they must be getting – a remnant of our feudalistic system?
Destination Infinity
Hmm…i have never seen caged birds as pets. We have plenty of pigeons in Hyderabad. So the moment we put a fistful of rice on the compound wall,we have pigeons flocking there. So never felt the need for caged pets,then again, i hate caging birds.
oh, pigeons eat rice also? I have only tried feeding it wheat. Will try it now 🙂
Destination Infinity
ya…poor pigeons they hardly get anything to eat! They eat rice too. My mom always gives them grains of rice.They eat and move their heads as if they are dancing after the rice-feast! I better take some pics next time.
May be they are sadists.
I guess there is nothing wrong about being a sadist for sometime, as it is a result of being hurt, but they should be able to come out of it. Not many are.
Destination Infinity
My heart bleeds when I see people torturing animals for fun. Keeping caged birds is no fun and it does not add any beauty to one’s place. For me, it only reflects the sadistic mentality of that person. BTW I read some where that Hawaii is the best place to be a bird!! it is illegal there to keep cages birds and when caught, a person has to spend 4 hrs in cage like structures! now that’s called an animal protection law 😀
Very nice post and Happy Diwali!! 🙂
Just 4 hours? It should have been at least 4 months. Some birds are kept in captivity for ever!
Destination Infinity
Very pertinent question Rajesh. A good mix of sarcasm and analysis. I feel so bad when I see these birds caged up. Yes, one wants to look at them all the time, they are so beautiful. But that very beauty is destroyed when superimposed by the metal grills of a cage. Man’s selfishness knows no bounds.
Beauty is destroyed when human beings try to attain it and sustain it ever after, instead of enjoying it occasionally from a distance. I feel.
Destination Infinity
Well written.
Yes, only they know what pleasure they get by caging birds!
I feel the same with fish tanks too.
Destination Infinity
This applies for any pet, even dogs or cats which are left alone at home for an entire day. Can’t imagine how boring the life of a pet animal can be! There is no one else to talk to. I also dislike people keeping fish in small bowls especially round ones. I guess mostly people get pets for company.
I feel sad when I see a caged bird, even in zoos. 🙁
I am against the concept of zoo. Nowadays. I think it is misdirected concern.
Destination Infinity
That’s brilliantly said. This is one and only reason why I never had a bird as pet. How can cage something I love!!
I know a crow (of all things, crow!) that kept returning to a home at a particular time to take some food. Then it flies away. That’s what I call bliss, to both. Not caging birds and force feeding it.
Destination Infinity
Our neighbors feed pigeons and so it’s gone beyond a point of admiring those birds. They make a mess near our window sills and verandahs. But yea, caging them when they’re being trained is ok, perhaps they feel the birds would fly off if they’re not caged!
Near our house, they are OK 🙂
Destination Infinity
I ever thought the ways you did and I generally feel people like birds so caged to look at them always. I know people buy dogs of certain breed to maintain a status in society, but never birds. Once my brother had lovebirds in cage and also reared rabbits. But nothing survived after few months and also started creating foul smell. I love bird watching but only in wild and outside cage…
Yes, I agree.
Destination Infinity
Wow! Great reasons..
thanks
Sure.. 🙂
Destination Infinity
I hate to see people caging birds and animals. Can we imagine ourselves sitting in a cage with just another fellow human and some food.
Good one!
That’s called a jail. But in our case, only if we break the rules, we are jailed. In case of birds/animals, what did they do?
Destination Infinity
The beauty of a bird can be best seen when it is let free; when it is flying in all its glory. I hate to see them caged even in Zoos. I will post a picture soon which I shot in Mysore Zoo where a parrot(or parakeet I am not sure) outside the cage tries to communicate/ rescue the one inside. It was such a touching moment.
//they take revenge by caging birds and feeling a sadistic pleasure of controlling// this one made me laugh 🙂 yea, you never know there could be such reasons behind caging 🙂 😀
Yet, people flock to the zoo like its some kind of exhibition. I wonder if it’s their misunderstood love for animals!
Destination Infinity