‘Birdman’ Uses her own savings to feed more than 8,000 parakeets a day

OOne winter morning in 2004, Joseph Sekar of Chennai noticed five tired macaws on his terrace in Triplicane, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city.

Today, these five macaws have added thousands – 8,000 to be exact – thanks to Sekar, who uses 40% of his monthly income to feed them at the same spot every day.

“Keeping the rice soaked in water for the sparrows is a family tradition. So after I moved to Chennai about three decades ago, I continued to practice. But this is the first time I’ve seen macaws frequent my terrace. That was the beginning of my experiment with beautiful birds. I don’t even realize when the number hits the thousands”, said Sekar, a camera mechanic and electrician, told India is better.

While locals fondly refer to Sekar as the ‘Birdman of Chennai’, his terrace has also become a tourist hub for visitors around the world. Sometimes they offered to contribute to his noble endeavours, but he always politely declined. “I would never take out a loan or accept money to feed my children,” he said.

Take a look at the changes he’s made in his lifestyle to accommodate this heartwarming routine: