Category “Participant Profile”

Participant Profile: Gnanaskandan Kesava Bharathi

Saturday, 22 December, 2012

gnanskandan k-edited-new

Where do you live?
I live in the city of Chennai.

When did you start watching birds?
I was very much interested in mammals and birds right from my childhood. Teaming with my brother, I took birdwatching as a hobby in 2002 at my hometown Thiruvannamalai. With Birds of Rishi Valley being our first field guide, the first bird we spotted was the Common Hoopoe. This kick-started my interest in birding. After moving to Chennai, joining the Madras Naturalists’ Society in 2008 took my birding to a higher level.

Who would you consider your birding mentor?
Well, the list is very long. I learnt from every birder I met and consider each one as my mentor. Prof. A. Chandrasekaran introduced me to the birds of Chennai. Through constant guidance from experienced birders such as Dr V. Santharam, Dr A. Rajaram and P. Ramanan, I gained a lot of birding gyan, and improved my bird identification skills. Also, my friend T. Varun’s on-the-field mentoring helped me understand bird behaviour and enhanced my interest in raptors.

Please describe a memorable birding experience.
The sighting of Red-necked Falcons near Siruthavur Lake, Chennai, in 2010 is the most memorable one. As distribution maps didn’t show any records of this species from the east coast of Tamil Nadu, my entire birding gang visited Bangalore in search of the Red-necks but our search ended in vain. Weeks later, we went on birding around the Siruthavur Lake which is one of our favourite birding haunts. We spotted a small raptor perching on an electric pole, which at first glance looked like a Black-shouldered Kite. As we raised our binoculars, it turned out to be a Red-necked Falcon – the bird that had been eluding us for so long!

What are your favourite migrants?
Even though I am a “raptorphile”, waders are my favourite migrants, as they always pose a great challenge in identification. My favourites are the Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone and Terek Sandpiper. Apart from these, harriers and falcons have always inspired me with their flights and are on top of my list.

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?
Pulicat is one of my favourite migrant watching grounds. Areas in and around Pulicat show diverse habitats – open grasslands for harriers and storks, thick scrub that support kestrels and warblers, shallow water lakes housing hundreds and thousands of waterfowl, waders and flamingos; and exposed mud-banks that have gulls and terns. Kelambakkam salt pans are yet another favourite for waterbirds and Peregrine Falcons.

Do you have any advice for beginning birdwatchers and naturalists?
Most beginners and even experienced birders tend to ignore watching challenging groups like waders, larks, pipits and warblers, which should not be the case. Beginners should understand, follow and encourage others to follow the basic birding ethics. Also, people should involve themselves in any form of data collection process and even a small observation will add importance to bird research in the long run.

Why do you think people should care about birds and nature?
Birds are good indicators of a healthy environment. We can also understand the effects of climate change from them. They provide vital ecological services such as pollination, scavenging, seed dispersal and keeping insect populations under control. They are integral part of our ecosystem and without them, humans will perish.

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

Participant Profile: Dr. Jayan Thomas

Tuesday, 20 November, 2012

Where do you live?
I live in the coastal city of Cannanore (Kannur) in Kerala.

When did you start watching birds?
As a lad I was interested in birds, but mostly as targets for my Diana .22 air gun! Then I joined medicine and became an eye specialist and forgot all about it. However, my curiosity about birds and their behaviour was sparked again in the year 2004 when at the beach I witnessed a Blue-tailed Bee-eater catch a bee, smash it against a wire and swallow it. From then on I began birdwatching more seriously.

Who would you consider your birding mentor?
My mentor is Mr. P.C. Rajeevan who is arguably one of the greatest birders in Kerala. His motto is “ birding all day”. I learned my birding basics from him. I was also inspired by birdwatchers like Mr. Sashikumar and Praveen J. and received support from Suhel Quader and Aasheesh Pittie.

Please describe a memorable birding experience.
Sighting of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Cannanore by Rajeevan and myself was the greatest birding moment of my life. This is a North American bird which had never before been reported from South Asia! I was giddy with excitement at this sighting. Moreover, I received a certificate from the Limca Book of Records for becoming the first Indian to ever take the photo of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper in South Asia.

What are your favourite migrants?
Since I live by the sea, my favourite migrants are, of course, the waders. Waders are the most engaging  birds whose identification may be challenging too. Just watching them gives me great joy.

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?
My favourite birding playground is Madayipara, which is a laterite hillock on the coast, 23 km from Cannanore. Madayipara is the place for passage migrants in Kerala. Some of the migrants seen here are the Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Oriental Pratincole, Tawny Pipit and Isaballine Wheatear.

Do you have any advice for beginning birdwatchers and naturalists?
Birdwatching is great fun, but one has to be honest with their data and sightings. Not seeing a new bird is nothing to be ashamed of, but faking sightings certainly does make one a bad birdwatcher. Naturalists should be pragmatic to their approach on all issues concerning nature.

Why do you think people should care about birds and nature?
The world is for everyone both big and small. Homo sapiens and birds are like the sides of the same coin. We can’t live separately. We either live together or perish together.

Any other information that you’d like to share with MigrantWatchers?
MigrantWatchers are doing a wonderful job tracking birds across India. The eye does not see what the mind does not know. Hence, riffling through one’s favourite bird book once in a while and learning about various migrants is an excellent way to get familiar with them and identifying them in field.

You can see Dr. Jayan Thomas’s MigrantWatch contributions here, and his photos here.

Participant Profile: Prathamesh Desai

Monday, 27 August, 2012


Where do you live?
I live in Dombivli, a small city in Thane district of Maharashtra.

When did you start watching birds?
My interest in birds began in primary school when my parents got me a book called ‘My Album of Birds’, which was a basic introduction to birds from around the world. That’s when I discovered that there were birds like hornbills, toucans and storks, and not just sparrows or pigeons as depicted in childhood stories. But my real journey into birding began in 2010 when I participated in the Mumbai Bird Race. That’s when I realised that there was so much more to birds. I started serious birdwatching from that day onwards, and since then I think my life has changed.

Who would you consider your birding mentor?
Well, there is a long list. Nilesh Bhanage introduced me to seasoned birders like Pradnyavant Mane, and Harischandra Mhatre. They taught me the basics of birding and gave wonderful tips. Rajesh Sachdev taught me how to collect and maintain records. Kiran Kadam accompanied me in most of my birding trips and helped me improve my field skills. I also received support and inspiration from Mayuresh Khatavkar, Adesh Shivkar and Raju Kasambe.

Please describe a memorable birding experience.
My most memorable birding experience was when my team won the 2012 Mumbai Bird Race. During the 200-km journey from Dombivli to Murbad my team saw 169 species of birds! We were so busy watching and counting birds that we didn’t mind the fact that we had had no breakfast or lunch! Sighting of the Malabar Grey Hornbill was my favourite moment on that day.

What are your favourite migrants?
I like all of them, but my favourite migrants are large Aquilas such as Greater Spotted Eagle and Steppe Eagle. Among waterbirds I like Northern Pintail, Black-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Baillon’s Crake.

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?
Surrounded by River Ulhas on one side and Hajimalang Range on the other makes Dombivli one of best wintering grounds for various migrants. Dombivli hosts more than 215 bird species (including migratory as well as resident). Each year more than 5000 ducks and about 2000-5000 waders spend their winters in Dombivli Creek. Another favourite birding site is Mumbra Hills, which is an excellent place to watch birds of prey. Common Buzzard, Booted Eagle, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Hobby, Steppe Eagle and Greater Spotted Eagle, Indian Spotted Eagle, Bonneli’s Eagle, White Bellied Sea Eagle and many other raptors can be sighted here.

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. We as naturalists are unable to put forth this view due to lack of systematic data. I urge beginning birdwatchers and naturalists to convert their field observations into systematic data that will ultimately benefit conservation in the long run. Participating in initiatives like MigrantWatch is the need of the hour.

Why do you think people should care about birds and nature?
Birds, and animals in general, are vital in the balance of nature. Any change in this balance could ultimately affect us directly or indirectly. Birds are indicators of a healthy ecological cycle. They help in pollination, dispersal, scavenging and controlling insect populations. It is extremely important to conserve nature, birds and their habitat if we want our life to be secure.

Any other information that you’d like to share with MigrantWatchers?
MigrantWatchers should not just contribute towards data-building, but should also inspire greater number of people to participate in this movement through various campaigns. For a large country like India, such initiatives can be fruitful only if a large number of people participate in it.

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

Participant Profile: Arun Bharos

Thursday, 9 August, 2012

Where do you live?
I live in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh.

When did you start watching birds?

I started birdwatching in the late 1970s. However, I became more systematic in 1980 and since then I have been maintaining a daily record of sightings of all birds and other fauna wherever I have been.

Who would you consider your birding mentor?
The one person who inspired me the most and initiated me into birding was my father late Mr R R Bharos, who was himself an outstanding naturalist.

Please describe a memorable birding experience.

While it is difficult to isolate a single event, I particularly cherish one incident in Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary back in 1985 when I encountered the White-bellied Woodpecker (Dryocopos javensis). This sighting, which was the first for the region, helped establish a crucial missing link in the distribution of the species. It was subsequently published in the Journal of Bombay Natural History Society.

What are your favourite migrants?
Among migrant birds I am particularly keen on waders and warblers. The more challenging the species the more interesting I find it!

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?

Although I like birding in heronries or wetlands, I am happy to watch birds anywhere – even at home.

Do you have any advice for beginning birdwatchers and naturalists?

My advice for starting birders is to have dedication and concentration. They should not hesitate to learn from experienced birdwatchers and naturalists whenever the opportunity comes.

Why do you think people should care about birds and nature?
There is lots to say on this, but to summarise in a sentence: because birds are excellent indicators of a healthy environment.

Is there any other information that you’d like to share with MigrantWatchers?
By profession I am an electrical engineer (I retired as Secretary, Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board in 2004). But I have always been a keen naturalist and have been involved in various natural history organisations. I have published about 70 articles in national and international natural history journals. I currently represent the Chhattisgarh Wildlife Society, which is one of the most active wildlife groups in the state.

You can see Arun Bharos’s MigrantWatch contributions here.

Participant Profile: Fionna Prins

Saturday, 21 April, 2012


Where do you live?
I live in beautiful Goa, in a small village called Pilerne, about 4 km inland from the famous beaches. I stay in an old house which has a large unkempt garden which is visited by lots of birds.

When did you start watching birds?
I must have always been watching birds because my mother tells me that when I was about two she took me to a zoo, and apparently I only had eyes for the sparrows and starlings that were picking near the elephant’s feet, ignoring the big animals completely! Later, when I went to secondary school I had to cycle 15 km every day to get there. Most other kids would take the bus but I always enjoyed the rides because it went through a large lake area with lots of birds.

Who would you consider your birding mentor?
Nobody in particular but I do find that birding platforms on the web are a fantastic way to learn and exchange information.

Please describe a memorable birding experience.
One day, many years ago, during the first year of my bicycle rides to school, I saw two swans peeking through the reeds from their nest. Every year they would come back to the same place and we would eye each other twice a day, every day for weeks until they would appear on the lake with the new brood. Every year again it felt like a wonder.

What are your favourite migrants?
Well, it is always exciting to see every new arrival again. The Amur falcons always create a lot of interest but I am just as happy to see the tree pipits, pied cuckoos and rosy starlings coming back. Where we live there is also a lot of local migration which brings their own little marvels. Each arrival, each sighting, even of the most common birds, gives me hope that nature may perhaps prevail.

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?
We are lucky that immediately behind our house there is a hilly area where you can walk for hours rarely encountering anybody. It has a good variety of birds. Over the years I recorded more than 150 different species including a number of migrants.

Do you have any advice for beginning birdwatchers and naturalists?
Go out every day in the same area. This way you will learn where and when to expect the birds and how they behave. So even without fancy equipment you can have great sightings.

Why do you think people should care about birds and nature?
Only if there is harmony between fauna, which for me includes people, and flora, existence can be sustainable. Unfortunately, probably starting around the times of the industrial revolution, non- human life is losing out.

Any other information that you’d like to share with MigrantWatchers?
If we want to put strategies into place to preserve nature we need to understand it in as much as possible. To do so there is the need for data. By cross referencing various data, information can be created which allows us to design interventions which can help to preserve our wildlife, including birds. Therefore it is of utmost importance to not only keep records of sightings but also to share them as much as possible. Nature gives us sightings, we can give back by sharing our data so nature can be protected.

You can see Fionna’s MigrantWatch contributions here, and her photos here.

Participant Profile: Sachin Shurpali

Friday, 6 April, 2012

Where do you live?
I live in Bangalore.

When did you start watching birds?
2007! I Started by photographing birds but lately I am trying to do only birding. Thanks to the purists in my group.

Who would you consider your birding mentor?
My birding mentor is Praveen J.

Please describe a memorable birding experience.
One of my most memorable experiences was my trip in the open ocean off the coast of Kannur, Kerala. The trip, specifically intended to look at pelagic birds, was the first of its kind, I believe, at least for the Malabar Natural History Society (MNHS) and the first time for all of us on the venture. Pelagic birding involves long hours of gazing at the sea, with mostly no birds, and add to that a bird-repelling chum in the form of vomit from fellow sea-sick birders! To start with, all the pelagic birds from the field guides were unfamiliar to us (all of them were potential lifers!). How do we really spot them if they are there? If we see them, can we get close to them at all? Would we get enough time to identify them? Will these birds tolerate us or fly several nautical miles away? On the other hand, we were warned not to get too excited with sightings and jump off the boat to get the best view among all birders and get watched as Homo sapiens pelagicus!

It had been quite a few hours, the dullness was setting in when to our good luck we saw the first shearwaters. Our energy levels were all up to identify the birds and witness their shearing-water flight. We also soon realized that the bird activities around the fishing boats is one of the best ways to find them. Our pelagic trip ended with more than sixteen hours into the sea and maybe just two hours of actually seeing some birds. However, it was worth the effort, for we managed to see many pelagic species, including Masked Boobies, Arctic Skuas and Flesh-footed Shearwaters. An interesting entry to our list was pelagic Brahminy kites! Thanks to MNHS, Praveen J and all birders on the boat (and off boat) for this memorable experience.

What are your favourite migrants?
All of them, although my current interest seems to be in warblers.

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?
Since I largely focus on warblers, I find Hessaraghatta to be a good place for the Hippolais (also called Iduna) and Sylvia warblers, Nandi Hills for Phylloscopus warblers, and Rampura for Acrocephalus warblers (all locations around Bangalore).

Do you have any advice for beginning birdwatchers and naturalists?
I recommend them to read Bill Oddie’s Little Black Bird Book. (Thanks to Mike for his insistence.)

Why do you think people should care about birds and nature?
On a lighter note, because it’s fun, and on a serious note we must ensure that the next several generations have fun!

Any other information that you’d like to share with MigrantWatchers?
MigrantWatch is a good initiative in documenting our avifauna and thus contribution to the same will be key to continuation of ecological studies which are important for the healthy survival of all.

You can see Sachin’s MigrantWatch contributions here.

Participant Profile: Dr Raju Kasambe

Wednesday, 7 March, 2012

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.

Participant Profile: Roopa V

Friday, 9 September, 2011

Where do you live?
Mayyanad Village in Kollam District of Kerala.

What do you do?
I am a doctor.

When did you start watching birds?
1992

Who would you consider your birding mentor?
It was Mr. Induchoodan’s book title ‘Keralathile Pakshikal’ (Birds of Kerala) by K. K. Neelakantan that helped me identify the birds in my early days of bird watching.

Please describe a memorable birding experience.
In 1998, there was a Pariah Kite (P Kite) nest and a Brahminy Kite (B Kite) nest near my house on two coconut trees, 50 meters apart. Each had two chicks. The P Kite chicks were a bit younger than the B Kite chicks that could fly a bit but were still mostly dependant on their parents for food.

One early morning (22 Feb 1998) while I was watching these birds I saw that both the father kites had done out. A little later the P Kite father brought back a big fat rat and gave it to mother P Kite to feed the chicks. The chicks noisily feasted on the rat and this caused the B Kite chicks to pester their mother for food. But the mother stood helplessly and waited for her mate to bring back food for their chicks. The P Kite again went out and came back with another big rat. This time the P Kite chicks were full and refused to eat the rat. So the P Kite kept moved to a nearby coconut leaf and waited with the rat under his talons. Meanwhile the hungry B Kite chicks continued to pester their mother for food. In desperation she flew to a leaf near the P Kite with the rat who made threatening gestures at her. The B Kite retreated to a leaf a bit further away from the P Kite watching and waiting. The B Kite chicks soon started pestering her again for food. The P Kite watched and then flew away leaving the rat on the coconut leaf. The B Kite took the rat and flew towards her nest with the chicks following closely. She then fed the rat to her chicks.

I was very surprised to see this behaviour of these birds of prey.

What is/are your favourite migrants?
The Brown-breasted Flycatcher

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?
My garden

Do you have any advice for beginning birdwatchers and naturalists?
If you keep a daily record of all the birds you will be surprised by what all you discover about them. When I started recording all the common birds daily, I found that the Pariah Kite also migrates in my area. They disappear from around here at the onset of the SW Monsoon and return only after around sixty days.

Why do you think people should care about birds and nature?
All living beings in this world depend on each other in one way or another. Man can not survive with just a few cultivated plants and a handful of domesticated animals. Moreover, Mother Nature gives us joy and happiness; she heals all our pain and distress; calms us when we are worried and angry; she teaches us compassion, tolerance and patience.

You can see Roopa V’s MigrantWatch reports here.

Participant Profile: Shantilal Varu

Friday, 8 April, 2011

Where do you live?
I am living at Madhapur village of Bhuj Taluka, Kutch District (Gujarat)

What do you do?
I am retired government servant.

When did you start watching birds?
I have been bird-watching for over 40 years.

Who would you consider your birding mentor?
I was a keen birdwatcher since childhood and I found great inspiration from Late Dr. Salim Ali and M. K. Himmatsinhji, who I consider as my mentors. I met Salim Ali at Hingolgadh in 1977 and Bhuj in 1979 and I had many birding trips in Kutch with Himatsinhji.

Please describe a memorable birding experience.
One of my most memorable bird-watching experiences was in the year 1978 when we were visiting the Flamingo City in the Great Rann of Kutch. We lost our way in the darkness and had to stay the night in the Rann without any food and very little water. It turned out to be one of my most adventurous birding trips.

What is/are your favourite migrants?
My favourite birds are waders.

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?
My favourite bird-watching places in Kutch are: Great and Little Rann of Kutch, Chhari Dhandh, Naliya Grassland, Banni Grassland and the coastal belts of Kutch.

Why do you think people should care about birds?
Nature has given birds its nicest colours and sounds – people should enjoy these.

View photos by Shantilal Varu.

View sightings by Shantilal Varu.
Shantilal Varu has contributed 629 reports on the MigrantWatch Database from 26 locations in Gujarat (as on 8 April 2010).

You can write to Shantilal Varu at snvaru at yahoo.in

Participant Profile: Capt Praveen Chopra

Tuesday, 8 March, 2011

I belong to the Punjabi Clan and my family’s roots can be traced back to Amritsar and Lahore in the pre-partition era; the family migrated and settled in Delhi in 1947. Since my father was from the defense services, we lived a gypsy’s life, spending most of our time in Cantts (Cantonment area), that were often quite open and wild. And that’s where the early childhood interest in watching nature grew. This hobby also provided a good escape from mathematics in school!

My love for nature kept growing during my days in the army. Once armed with Salim Ali’s book on ‘Birds of the Indian Sub-continent’ my tryst with the hobby of bird watching started, and later bloomed into a life-long passion. My dependence on this book increased with every reading. Salim Ali’s capacity to accurately describe birds and their habits was beyond comprehension, and each description was equivalent to a thousand good photographs.

The rewards of bird watching are endless and every single sighting has been a memorable one. I vividly remember each of my sightings, whether it is the song of a Crested Lark, flying concert of Small Pratincoles, the hunt by an Osprey, sight of low flying Saras Cranes, the air show of courting Indian Rollers or the flight of over a hundred Demoiselle Cranes making mid-course corrections over the Ganga, on the way to their winter destinations. The charms of bird watching are countless, and you can pursue them anywhere, anytime – be it in the middle of an ocean or a desert, on a railway platform, or from your office window or even your balcony.

Come winter and one is mystified by the phenomena called migration. I have watched with amazement as White Wagtail arriving at the same spot, year after year, keeping their appointments by the date. There is never a dull moment on the banks of the Ganga, all throughout the winters. The Black Redstarts, Bluethroats, water fowl and the wading birds keep you spell-bound till March end.

Regular and systematic penning down of every insignificant and uneventful field observation, can add up to be a wealth of data, which when compiled over the years, may prove to be of great relevance, in the fast degrading environment and ever changing climate.

Feeding trays for birds and a bird-bath is a must in every home. I find that the Jain religion, which advocates this culture, has helped sustain a healthy population of the House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) in the city of Jaipur, while we have observed shocking declines of this wonderful bird from our midst in the recent years. Many a time conservation at the grass-root and individual levels can be far more effective and rewarding than national projects. Bird watching must be a part of the curricula in every school. This would help the cause of conservation, and highlight the economic importance of birds and the nature in general amongst the young generation.

You can write to Praveen Chopra at capt_praveenchopra@rediffmail.com. His MigrantWatch sightings can be seen here.