Participant Profile: Dr Raju Kasambe

This entry was posted Wednesday, 7 March, 2012 at 5:11 am

Where do you live?
I live in Dombivali (East), district Thane, Maharashtra; and I work at the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Mumbai.

When did you start watching birds?
I started watching birds way back in 1996.

Who would you consider your birding mentor?
There was no person in particular who mentored me. Salim Ali’s Book of Indian Birds was my only guide in the beginning.

Please describe a memorable birding experience.
In the middle of one hot summer I had gone to the Upper Wardha Dam along with a young birder Nandkishor Dudhe in search of passage migrants. In the afternoon we stumbled upon a huge nesting colony of the Blue-tailed Bee-eaters (Merops philippinus) with around 2,000 nests holes in the river cutting! It was a most fascinating sight. Later I studied the breeding behaviour of these Bee-eaters for my M.Sc. dissertation.

What are your favourite migrants?
I have a lot of favourites among migratory birds, but the ones I like most are Blue-tailed Bee-eaters, Common Cranes, and Sociable Lapwings.

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?
My all-time favourite birding spots to watch migratory birds are the Pohara Tank in Amravati district, the Wana Dam in Nagpur district, and the Sewri mudflats in Mumbai.

Do you have any advice for beginning birdwatchers and naturalists?
Birdwatching is a fascinating hobby. Do it with passion and it will reward you with new knowledge every time you go out, besides giving you new vigour to work.

Why do you think people should care about birds and nature?
If you cannot give, at least don’t destroy whatever natural heritage we have left.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with MigrantWatchers?
I worked as a medical representative with a premier pharmaceutical multinational company for 18 long years. My work involved a lot of travelling. It was during these tours that I nurtured my passion for birds, often carrying binoculars and camera in the bag. I enrolled for a Ph.D., which I pursued while on my job. Upon submitting my thesis, I said goodbye to the pharmaceutical company and joined BNHS as Project Manager for the Important Bird Areas Programme in April, 2010. Now my passion and the profession are same!

You can see Raju Kasambe’s MigrantWatch reports here.

5 Comments to Participant Profile: Dr Raju Kasambe

  1. Dr. Jayant Wadatkar says:

    March 10th, 2012 at 4:14 am

    We are proud of you, my friend! I remember those days when did we start wandering for Birds in 1997 around Amravati and in Melghat Tiger Reserve. Keep it up. Chalte Raho! Badhate Raho. –Jayanta

  2. mukesh more says:

    June 12th, 2013 at 6:14 pm

    I attend your program on environmental awareness at our npcil tms site. it was very nice to know about birds and butterflies.I watched many birds around me specially near a Creek where sea water comes on hi tide.most of bird I watched very closely but I don’t know their names. l likes to watch birds.thanks for valuable information.

  3. laxmishankar yadav says:

    June 17th, 2013 at 10:56 am

    you are a good birdwatchers.you have to bird conservation and
    well guidance,thanku sir.

  4. Bharat Jasani says:

    July 2nd, 2013 at 9:14 am

    Very nice interview.Have learnt a lot from you. Nature and bird-watching is a continuous learning proccess and people like you are a great help to us.

  5. Rajesh Kr Singh says:

    November 20th, 2019 at 5:40 am

    Sir,
    I want to develop open butterfly park at our plant located at Tarapur MIDC. Can you help us in designing and selecting species of trees/flowers.
    Waiting for your reply.
    Mobile 7798047869

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