Strictly for the birds

Over 450 bird owners converged this week in Peshawar with their partridges for the fifth All-Pakistan Black Partridge Singing Competition.

The unusual competition is held annually and brings together many bird lovers, as they lock in usually friendly competition.

The competition, supervised by a panel of experienced judges, is conducted in three phases.

Partridges that do not chirp in the first 10-minute round are knocked out in the first round.

The same rules apply to the five-minute long second round.

This year the partridge belonging to Ustad Rahim, from Kohat, chirped 239 times, winning his owner the title and a 14-inch television set.

Losing out by only two chirps was a black partridge, from Bannu, chirping 237 times. His owner, Farooq Khan, won a trophy and a Chinese bicycle.

The event is held in peak summer when the birds start singing the most. Many people in the country are in fact keen bird lovers, and rearing birds is a popular hobby.

Some amongst them believe that "partridges are in fact praising Almighty Allah when they sing".

Seventy-five-year-old Mohammed Raza from Abbotabad has been keeping black partridges for 50 years.

He said the birds need extra care and a special diet.

"Every day I spend over four hours with the bird, taking it out to the fields and giving him special food that includes almonds," he said.

Explaining the factors behind the event, Muhammad Ali Akhundzada, one of the chief organisers, explained.

"We want to promote this centuries-old tradition and stop people from indulging in drugs and other dreaded activities,".

Organisers also said the response to invitations sent out was far better than expected, with people traveling from the Punjab and other areas as well to take part in the event.

There are also plans to hold similar events for those keeping other bird species, and to encourage the holding of such competitions in other parts of the country, enabling more people to take part.

A 'dance competition' for peacocks is being planned for Lahore.