{"id":2876,"date":"2013-11-15T13:07:09","date_gmt":"2013-11-15T13:07:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.migrantwatch.in\/blog\/?p=2876"},"modified":"2026-10-01T10:54:38","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T10:54:38","slug":"participant-profile-p-jeganathan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.migrantwatch.in\/blog\/2013\/11\/15\/participant-profile-p-jeganathan\/","title":{"rendered":"Participant Profile: P. Jeganathan"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Jeganathan<\/a><\/p>\n

Where do you live?<\/em>
\nI stay in Valparai, Southern Western Ghats, and also Kadapa, Eastern Ghats.<\/p>\n

When did you start watching birds?<\/em>
\nIt 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.<\/p>\n

Who would you consider your birding mentor?<\/em>
\nThe Book of Indian Birds<\/em> by Salim Ali. I haven\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

Please describe a memorable birding experience.<\/em>
\nThere are quite a few. My first sighting of Great Hornbill (in flight) in Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, and watching the Jerdon\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

What are your favourite migrants?<\/em>
\nGrey Wagtails. They are lovely birds, aren\u2019t they?<\/p>\n

What is your favourite place to watch migrants?<\/em>
\nMy favourite birding spots are Valparai<\/a> (Tamil Nadu) and Badvel Big Tank<\/a>, Kadapa (Andhra Pradesh).<\/p>\n

Do you have any advice for beginning birdwatchers and naturalists?<\/em>
\nInstead 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.<\/p>\n

Why do you think people should care about birds and nature?<\/em>
\nWhy should we care about birds? To know the one of the many reasons why we should, please read Are Warblers less important than Tigers?<\/em><\/a> by Madhusudan Katti. Why should we care about nature? Well, we don\u2019t simply say ‘nature’, we say ‘Mother Nature’. Shouldn\u2019t we care about our mother?<\/p>\n

Any other information that you’d like to share with MigrantWatchers?<\/em>
\nI 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<\/em> or muthiyar<\/em>. But, Muthuva tribes call these birds soolai<\/em>. 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.<\/p>\n

You can see P. Jeganathan’s MigrantWatch observations here<\/a> and his photographs here<\/a>.<\/p>\n