A CENTURY-OLD Bahraini tradition is being revitalised as bird markets reopen across the kingdom following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
The ‘Paradise on Earth’ bird festival opened near the Arad Fort yesterday, and attracted more than 40 breeders, showcasing hundreds of unique birds.
“Ever since the Isa Town Traditional Market closed due to the pandemic, bird breeders have had difficulty reaching their customers,” Arad councillor Ahmed Al Meghawi, who came up with the idea for the festival, told the GDN.
“But even beyond that, going to the bird market is one of our longstanding traditions, and gives visitors an opportunity to witness beauty first-hand and even touch, cuddle and play with birds.”
Budgies, pigeons, roosters, macaws, mynah birds and even a raven were on show at the festival, which drew hundreds of visitors, including families and fellow breeders. Prices ranged from BD2 to BD50, though some rare birds can command prices of up to BD1,000 each.
The market provided a platform, free of charge, to local entrepreneurs to reconnect with customers as they showcased their homebred feathered friends.
In addition to the festival, bird and pet markets opened yesterday in Diraz and Jidhafs as well.
Mr Al Meghawi
Mr Al Meghawi hopes to make the Arad bird market a mainstay of the area, and run it every Friday and Saturday from 7am to 11am.
Hassan Abbas Mohammed is a wellknown bird breeder amongst local ornithophily enthusiasts, and was glad to see the return of the market.
“Even though interest in bird-keeping has dramatically grown during the Covid-19 pandemic, I have missed the Isa Town market, where we could show our birds and see what new varieties our friends had acquired,” the 50-year-old who has been raising birds for 30 years said.
“As people spent more time indoors, birds became ideal company and during the pandemic, most of my customers would come to my farm in Tashan, near Khamis, to pick up a new pet. I hope this market becomes permanent, so we can start to bring back this tradition.”
Mr Mohammed took advantage of the chirpy morning to pick up a mynah and raven for himself for BD50, adding to his collection of ‘thousands of birds’.
Meanwhile, macaw breeder Majed Habib was kept busy with children and individuals eager to take a picture with the colourful birds.
“I have been raising these four macaws for more than a year now and the reaction of children as these gentle birds sit on their shoulders is something special,” the 40-year-old Maqsha resident said.
The market will run every Friday and Saturday, from 7am to 11am, and the Muharraq municipal council plans to open it up to even more breeders to exhibit various varieties of unique birds – both local and imported from as far away as South America and Australia.
The Muharraq municipal council has green-lit the initiative for the next two months.
naman@gulfweekly.com
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