While attending college in Manipal, Ramit Singal spent all his spare time carefully documenting the birds of the area. Ramit has now combined his sightings, photos and audio recordings into a book, with accompanying CD.

You can read more about Ramit and his book A Birder’s Handbook to Manipal in these articles in The Hindu | Times of India | DNA | The Manipal Journal.

Ramit has also written a lovely blog post on MigrantWatch, titled Manipal in the Winter. You can see Ramit’s 600+ MigrantWatch sightings and photos here, and his bird recordings are on xeno-canto.

Many congratulations, Ramit!

Where do you live?
I live in Ramnagar near Corbett National Park. At present I am based at Rajaji National Park.

When did you start watching birds?
I used to watch birds since in my childhood along with a group of nature-lover kids. But, I actively started birding in 2007 when I joined as a field assistant in a bird research project.

Who would you consider your birding mentor?
I consider Dr Raman Kumar as my mentor. He helped me when I had difficulties in identifying birds.

Please describe a memorable birding experience.
I have several memorable birding experiences from Ramnagar. I am a founder member of Youth for a Living Planet, a group of students in and around Ramnagar, which conduct awareness and wildlife conservation programmes. Every year we take children out for birdwatching on 12th November (Birdwatching Day), which is always a unique and memorable experience.

What are your favourite migrants?
My favourite migrant is the Pied Cuckoo.

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?
My favourite place to watch migratory birds are the Kosi River and the Haripura Wetland, near Ramnagar (Uttarakhand).

Do you have any advice for beginning birdwatchers and naturalists?
My message to beginners is to try to spent as much time as possible with the field guide and binoculars, write down observations regularly, and interact with other birder and experts.

Why do you think people should care about birds and nature?
Birds are very important to us. They indirectly help us in many ways. For example, as seed dispersers they help to regenerate our forests. They also help keep insects under control.

Any other information that you’d like to share with MigrantWatchers?
All MigrantWatchers have basic idea about how to identify birds, and their role and importance in nature. So it becomes our responsibility to spread awareness about birds among children and local communities.

You can see Mohan Joshi’s MigrantWatch contributions here.

Where do you live?
I stay in Valparai, Southern Western Ghats, and also Kadapa, Eastern Ghats.

When did you start watching birds?
It was sometime in 1995. I was completely into it when I was doing my masters dissertation fieldwork in Hogganakal Range. I loved watching birds along the riverine forests of river Cauvery.

Who would you consider your birding mentor?
The Book of Indian Birds by Salim Ali. I haven’t travelled much during my studies. So, in the beginning I mostly watched birds in the books. Later when I saw those birds in field it was so thrilling and exciting.

Please describe a memorable birding experience.
There are quite a few. My first sighting of Great Hornbill (in flight) in Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, and watching the Jerdon’s Courser while it was calling. But these are during my fieldwork. Recently I had been to north-east just for birding/wildlife watching and it was awesome.

What are your favourite migrants?
Grey Wagtails. They are lovely birds, aren’t they?

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?
My favourite birding spots are Valparai (Tamil Nadu) and Badvel Big Tank, Kadapa (Andhra Pradesh).

Do you have any advice for beginning birdwatchers and naturalists?
Instead of taking photos and sending it others or uploading it for identification GET A BIRD BOOK and a field notebook! Be a responsible birder, photographer and naturalist.

Why do you think people should care about birds and nature?
Why should we care about birds? To know the one of the many reasons why we should, please read Are Warblers less important than Tigers? by Madhusudan Katti. Why should we care about nature? Well, we don’t simply say ‘nature’, we say ‘Mother Nature’. Shouldn’t we care about our mother?

Any other information that you’d like to share with MigrantWatchers?
I am interested in documenting the vernacular names of birds and other wildlife. People in different parts of the same state have different names for the same species. Names differ in different cultures and tribes as well. And the meaning of a certain species is quite fascinating. For instance, here in the Anamalais local Kadar worship the Malabar Whistling-thrush and they consider these birds as their ancestors. They call this bird either as poola or muthiyar. But, Muthuva tribes call these birds soolai. So, as a birder, it is our responsibility not just to watch birds but also to interact with the locals and document these things and publicize them.

You can see P. Jeganathan’s MigrantWatch observations here and his photographs here.

Where do you live?
I live in Hennur, North Bangalore with my wife Vandana and our 4-year old daughter, Maya. I am originally from the UK.

When did you start watching birds?
I guess I was around 8 years old. I used to watch birds in my garden in England.

Who would you consider your birding mentor?
I don’t have any specific mentor as such, but my father was the biggest influence as he encouraged me to watch and identify birds from an early age. He always kept a field guide on the bookshelf, and we would jointly try to identify any wild visitors to our bird feeder. We would also look out for kites, falcons or buzzards on our annual holidays in the mountains of Wales (where my dad comes from).

Please describe a memorable birding experience.
My most memorable birding experience was with my wife on our honeymoon in Madagascar in 2007. There are so many weird and wonderful endemics there. Our favourite birds included Crested Coua and and Blue Coua (of the cuckoo family) and the Blue Vanga. Our best sighting, unknown to us at the time, was of a very shy Tsingy Wood Rail, which turned out to be a completely new species! We only found this out four years later when the editor of a UK bird magazine emailed me about my photograph of the bird on the internet, and the experts in the US subsequently confirmed the ID. My poor quality photo is now a rarity. If only I had known at the time, I would have tried harder to get a better photo!

What are your favourite migrants?
I guess my favourite migrant has to be the Eurasian Wryneck, which we saw for the first time on the Bangalore Bird Race in 2007.

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?
It used to be our balcony, overlooking marshes at the location of the long-gone Hennur Lake. Now even the marshes have gone, so we don’t see any snipe anymore, and most waders are out of sight now too. However we still enjoy seeing several hundred Glossy Ibis flying past our home in the first few months of the year, on their way to their evening roost. Some of them are resident all year round.

Do you have any advice for beginning birdwatchers and naturalists?
First enjoy what you have near your home – you may be surprised how many species you can see without going anywhere, and it can even be interesting just watching crows!

Why do you think people should care about birds and nature?
Birds are an essential part of our ecosystem. Salim Ali used to say that birds can flourish without humans but humans cannot even survive without birds. Unfortunately, we are none the wiser, and I only have to look out of my Bangalore balcony to remind myself of Man’s continued mass destruction of our natural habitat.

Any other information that you’d like to share with MigrantWatchers?
Whilst most of us have little control on the land around us, anyone who has an outside space, even a balcony, can do their bit to help birds. We are lucky enough to have a private roof terrace at home, and the small garden we have created now attracts sunbirds, bulbuls and doves on a daily basis, as well as munias, tits and flowerpeckers.

You can see James William’s MigrantWatch contributions here.

Where do you live?
I live in Anand, Gujarat.

When did you start watching birds?
I have been birding actively since 1997.

Who would you consider your birding mentor?
I learnt a lot about birdwatching from Dr. Justus Joshua, Director, Green Future Foundation, Udaipur, Rajasthan. He is a great naturalist.

Please describe a memorable birding experience.
My most memorable birding experience was birdwatching in and around Kutch, Gujarat. The area has a variety of habitats and ecosystems, and hence a great diversity of birds.

What are your favourite migrants?
My favourite migrant birds are flamingos.

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?
I especially like to visit Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary (Gujarat) to watch migratory birds.

Do you have any advice for beginning birdwatchers and naturalists?
My advice for beginners is: “Have passion and patience…always!”

Why do you think people should care about birds and nature?
We should be concerned about birds because I believe they are the inter-linking elements between humans and nature.

Is there any other information that you’d like to share with MigrantWatchers?
I maintain a blog that focuses on the biodiversity of Gujarat.  It has some very useful links for people who are interested in nature.

You can see Hiren B. Soni’s MigrantWatch contributions here.

Where do you live?
I stay in Thane, Mumbai (Maharashtra).

When did you start watching birds?
I have been interested in wildlife ever since my childhood. However, I started proper birdwatching and observation in 2008. Since then I have gained experience in field; I have also benefited from the availability of new equipment.

Who would you consider your birding mentor?
I can consider several people in my birding mentor list, as I have learnt many things from them and am still learning. But I am particularly grateful to Sunjoy Monga, Adesh Shivkar and Raju Kasambe.

Please describe a memorable birding experience.
It was fascinating when I first discovered that by camouflaging myself I could observe birds from very short distance. Such experiences are always special for me, hence I always enjoy birding alone. As far as birding in a group is concerned, a memorable experience was when my team won the HSBC Mumbai Bird Race 2012. That day my group saw 169 species in a single day, which was unexpected for me.

What are your favourite migrants?
Among the migrants my favourite birds are the flycatchers — mainly Ultramarine Flycatcher and Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher.

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?
It depends on habitat. For forest birds I like to visit Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Tansa Sanctuary and Phansad Sanctuary, while for waders the beaches and creeks near Mumbai and Thane are good.

Do you have any advice for beginning birdwatchers and naturalists?
My advice for beginners is that if you do not have an experienced person at hand, start your birding on your own. Learn to observe birds and their behavior, and try to visit new places.

Why do you think people should care about birds and nature?
Every single animal is important for our environment. We should respect all the animals and birds. Birds are always special for me because of their colour, unique flight style, and migration. Because of construction, pollution, and cutting down of forests, birds have lost their habitats. Hence, we should take steps to conserve birds and their habitat.

Any other information that you’d like to share with MigrantWatchers?
Bird sighting data is extremely important, so I would advise birders to maintain proper records of their bird observations.

You can see Avinash Bhagat’s MigrantWatch observations here and his photographs here.

Where do you live?
I live in Amravati in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Melghat Tiger Reserve, a well-known protected area is in Amravati district.

When did you start watching birds?
I started my birdwatching systematically in 1997. Before that I was largely a trekker who used to visit forests to see wildlife for adventure.

Who would you consider your birding mentor?
While there was no person in particular who mentored me, but after getting in touch with my birder friend Dr. Raju Kasambe, my birding became more serious and systematic. Since then I have spend lots of time birding with Raju.

Please describe a memorable birding experience.
It is difficult to isolate a single event, but I particularly cherish one incident when I visited Malkhed Reservoir for a weekend trip with my family. There wasn’t any plan for birding but my binoculars, field guide and camera are always in my sack. I was wandering around the lake with my 8-year-old daughter Rajeshwari. All of a sudden my attention was attracted by a white-coloured bird among a flock of Ruddy Shelduck. Upon observing it more carefully I discovered that the white-coloured bird was a Common Shelduck! I was thrilled because that was the first sighting of this species for Maharashtra.

What are your favourite migrants?
I have a lot of favourites among migratory birds but perhaps Black Stork and cranes are on top of the list.

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?
My favourite birding spots to watch migratory birds are Malkhed Reservoir and Chhatri Lake near Amravati, although I like birding in Melghat and anywhere in the Satpuda Range.

Do you have any advice for beginning birdwatchers and naturalists?
Today in India the environment is at loggerheads with developmental activities. We want progress; however, it is coming at the cost of destroying natural habitat and resources. My suggestion to birdwatchers is: Don’t limit yourself to only birdwatching and bird photography; do make an effort to also study the habitat and threats to birds, and come forward to speak out for the protection of bird habitat.

Why do you think people should care about birds and nature?
Nowadays there is a need for lakhs of hands for conserving nature and wildlife, to create intimacy for nature in every person of this country and the first step towards this is to become a birdwatcher. If birds are safe, then forests are safe, and when forests are safe then we can survive.

Any other information that you’d like to share with MigrantWatchers?
By profession I am a laboratory technician at Amravati University but I have been interested in nature and birding for the past 18 years. I have been nominated as Secretary for Wildlife and Environment Conservation Society (WECS), Amravati, which is a society of of concerned individuals working for environmental awareness and research. I have done my Ph.D. on “Butterflies of Satpuda”. Presently I am working on the Forest Owlet and other owl species in Satpuda Range. I am also working as a State Coordinator of IBCN as well as Honorary Wildlife Warden of Amravati district. I am also actively working for Maharashtra Pakshimitra and we have recently hosted the 26th Maharashtra Pakshimitra Sammelan (Birdwatchers meet). I also encourage fellow birdwatchers to share their sightings on MigrantWatch.

You can see Jayant Wadatkar’s MigrantWatch contributions here.

Where do you live?
Nowhere! My hometown is Madurai. Actually, I travel a lot, and currently I am travelling throughout the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu.

When did you start watching birds?
I was first introduced to birdwatching in 1998 by Mr. Relton during my post-graduation.

Who would you consider your birding mentor?
Though I started serious birding on my own in Point Calimere, using the pocket guide by Grimmett, I am currently mentored by Dr. Ranjit Daniels from whom I have learnt a lot.

Please describe a memorable birding experience.
My most memorable birding experience was with Dr. Balachander of BNHS. On that occasion he showed us 7 species of cuckoos in a few minutes around Thambusamy Illam, Point Calimere!

What are your favourite migrants?
I don’t have any favourites, but I always eagerly await the arrival of the Blue-tailed Bee-eaters from the Himalayas

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?
I prefer any scrub jungle to watch birds.

Do you have any advice for beginning birdwatchers and naturalists?
Before picking up a camera, pick up binoculars and learn to identify bird species! Then you can go for the camera. I have seen people roaming around with a camera and asking for bird IDs even for the common birds. Buy a camera after due consultation as you need a good zoom. Don’t just learn to identify birds, move ahead learn more about their behaviour and communication.

Why do you think people should care about birds and nature?
The sheer diversity of birds is mind-boggling. I was stunned to see so much variety when I was reading the Handbook of the Birds of the World in the library of the Bombay Natural History Society. You should protect birds just for their sheer diversity, and the joy of watching them feed, play, roost and mate. When you learn to appreciate the myriad functions they perform (building nest, hunting for insects, communication) with their small brain and limited structures you begin to love them. Wouldn’t you want to protect something you love?

Any other information that you’d like to share with MigrantWatchers?
Do not bluff! Report what you have seen in the field and nothing more than that. Don’t mock when someone identifies a bird wrongly. Learn to identify birds by their call. Record bird calls and listen to them repeatedly. Enjoy bird watching and don’t do it for the sake of fame.

You can see Patrick David’s MigrantWatch contributions here.

Where do you live?
I hail from Kumarakom (Kerala) which is part of the Vembanad Kol Wetland, an Important Bird Area. But for the past four years I am in in Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh) where I work as a naturalist with Taj Safaris who operate a lodge there.

When did you start watching birds?
I developed an interest in bird watching in my early teens. It all started with me joining a conservation NGO. I took some field study and conservation lessons with them, including some birding trips with seasoned birders. That got me interested in the wonderful world of birds.

Who would you consider your birding mentor?
I have had the opportunity to bird with some brilliant experts. These have ranged from field scientists to guides from local communities who have lived all their lives in the jungle and know the intricate details of bird habits which cannot be found in books. However, I hold Dr. B Sreekumar – a renowned birder form Kerala – as my guru in this field. For the last decade I have been fortunate to be involved in most of the bird counts conducted by the Forest Department and other organisations in Kerala, which helped me hone my skills as a birder.

Please describe a memorable birding experience.
Any time I go to a new habitat where the birdlife is very different is memorable for me. However, If I had to choose one, it would be my first trip to Corbett National Park. I saw an astounding number of new birds, one which we so lovingly call ‘lifers’. Nearly 180 ‘lifers’ in a few days was one of my most memorable birding experiences.

What are your favourite migrants?
It would have to be the various warblers and waders. It has always thrilled me to hear their calls, especially of waders in Kerala where they migrate in large numbers.

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?
Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, and the large wetlands of Southern India. The species found at these places are so vastly different from each other.

Do you have any advice for beginning birdwatchers and naturalists?
Enjoy the birds to begin with, before getting into a competition mode of chalking up numbers.

Why do you think people should care about birds and nature?
By taking care of birds and nature you are only taking care of yourself and the generations to come.

Any other information that you’d like to share with MigrantWatchers?
Apart from birding, I am very concerned about the usage of plastic in our everyday lives. I endeavour and am working towards awareness against the use of this menace that is, along with other pollutants destroying our planet. It is time to start acting locally, and I beseech each one reading this, to stop the use of plastic starting with yourself and your family. Thank you!

You can see Dipu Sasi’s MigrantWatch contributions here.

Where do you live?
I live in Peralam, Pullur Periya panchayath, near Kanhangad town in Kasaragod district of Kerala.

When did you start watching birds?
I began watching birds from my childhood but took up birding as a serious hobby since 2006 when I was in my final year studying architecture.

Who would you consider your birding mentor?
Two people – Varun Thangamoni and Anuradha Sarang – were my mentors in birdwatching.

Please describe a memorable birding experience.
I, along with members of our Environment Club, had gone to meet Mr Kareem (also known as Parappa), who has converted a barren piece of land into a forest in Kasaragod. While birding there we saw an adult male Paradise Flycatcher (nakamohan in Malayalam). It was catching insects with swift movements, like an artist who paints an abstract art. Such a moment is the best a birder can have. That sighting of Paradise Flycatcher inspired me into becoming a regular birder.

What are your favourite migrants?
Indian Pitta (Pitta brachyura) and Asian Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi) are my favourite migrant birds.

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?
Chemmattamvayal (near District Hospital, Kanhangad) is my favourite site to watch migrants.

Do you have any advice for beginning birdwatchers and naturalists?
Love Nature, which you are part of. Only then you will have a meaningful existence.

Why do you think people should care about birds and nature?
Birds can live without humans, but humans will perish without birds.

You can see Shyamkumar’s MigrantWatch contributions here, and his photos here.