Of seagulls and gathias

Gathia is a popular Gujerati snack – deep-fried chickpea flour crispies that are favourite with every Mumbaikar. Oftentimes the mere mention of the word sets us drooling.

Now, what, you may ask, is the connection between the Gathias and the Seagulls?

S is for Seagulls

Every winter the migratory gulls stopover in Mumbai like many of our own ‘snowbirds’. When the summer comes they fly back to cooler climes.

Unfortunately, these birds have become so fat and lazy feeding on the ‘gathia’ that they stay back only to die once temperatures rise.

Image for Seagulls in Mumbai

 

 

One day, I was driving down Marine Drive with Little Po and Ms. Papaya. Suddenly, Little Po shouted to Ms. Papaya, “Look the sky is filled with ‘gathias’

I couldn’t see a single ‘gathia’ in the sky. It was filled with seagulls though. The twiblilngs were enthusiastically counting the ‘gathia’ when the penny dropped.

A few weeks earlier,  Wow Dinga’s class had to spend one Sunday afternoon on Chowpatty beach and stop ardent bird ‘lovers’ from feeding the seagulls ‘gathias”.

So the next time Wow Dinga spotted some one feeding Seagulls on the beach he ran ahead and stopped him from feeding him.

The school is doing something right making the children aware that we should protect the earth and save birds like the Seagulls that make Mumbai their winter home.

Don’t you think so?

Ciao

Image for unishta

Image for AtoZ 2020

 

I’m participating in the AtoZ2020 Challenge, a month-long blog hop where participants post 26 posts, one for every Alphabet, every day except Sundays.

Do join me as I share my adventures with my Little People.

 

The photo for featured Image is taken from here


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Comments

16 responses to “Of seagulls and gathias”

  1. Anagha Yatin Joshi Avatar

    Calling the seagulls gathia though innocently, hits hard. I had witnessed this downright senseless practise of feeding the sea birds with gathia or chips while we were on our way to Mnadava jetty from Gateway of India, around 2 years back. How can well educated people engage in such activity that is harmful for the birds, I could not decipher.

    Like

    1. Unishta Avatar

      Educated unfortunately does not translate to intelligent or enlightened

      Like

  2. Frédérique Avatar

    Good kids! It is the young people who will take charge of environmental protection. I hope.

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    1. Unishta Avatar

      They will I am sure

      Like

  3. Suzy Avatar

    Oh my I never knew they even eat ganthias. Glad to hear schools are teaching them nature conservation. There is hope for the future.

    Like

    1. Unishta Avatar

      Definitely!

      Like

  4. Balaka Basu Avatar

    Most people just don’t care. I remember once on our ferry ride from gateway to Mandwa, I saw everyone feeding junk to these birds. They thought it was fun. Government should do something to stop this.

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    1. Unishta Avatar

      Yes they should but will people listen ? They say they have the right or freedom of thought speech and action

      Like

  5. arv Avatar
    arv

    People never stop messing with mother nature. This is a callous act.

    Like

    1. Unishta Avatar

      Yes and I hope the newer generations are more aware and respectful of nature than we were

      Like

  6. Shweta Suresh Avatar

    His school is definitely doing things right. Feeding human food to birds can be so detrimental to their health. It can also encourage the birds to become more violent! I am glad that the young man is very concerned about saving the sea gulls.

    Like

  7. DAVID A Folstad Avatar
    DAVID A Folstad

    Many types of birds and animals are adversely affected due to well-meaning persons who feed wild species. I think it is excellent when children learn in their youth about issues with respect to their own health and their community.

    Like

    1. Unishta Avatar

      Schools are doing a great job with environmental education and I’m sure the younger generations will be more responsible than we were

      Like

  8. Mahati ramya adivishnu Avatar

    These days schools are doing good job teaching important things in life which are not academic.

    Like

    1. Unishta Avatar

      Yes, it is nice to know that schools are imparting more life skills and values. But when we were growing up we did have lessons like Nature Study, housekeeping, carpentry, needlework, which hold us in good stead today. Schools should also impart such skills to children before they finish high school

      Like

  9. The Dream Girl Avatar

    Nature is one of our top priority right now.. and educating people is the one of the main ways we can help. Only if they listen…

    Like

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