Let us chase!

Prof. Dr. Ranjit Kumar Baruah (rkb7887@gmail.com)

''I do not chase", said the beautiful lady nonchalantly, who took up photography recently. I told her to take up bird photography so that she could travel to beautiful destinations besides learning the skills. Her first reaction to my suggestion dampened my spirit a little. Being an avid birder myself I knew what she would miss. She might not have experienced the joy of observing these colorful creatures in deep woods, swamps or grasslands in misty mornings and leisurely afternoons.

There are many people who take up birding as a hobby or full-time profession. For some people it is a mind relaxing adventure and a means to be close to the nature. Ivan Phillipsenof "Wild Latitude", a passionate naturalist with a background in scientific research, states that "birds are real beautiful Ambassadors from Nature". All the seven continents harbour around 10,000 species of birds in their countless habitats. Birding opens the gateway to learning the voices, plumage patterns, colours, and antics of different birds including the ecosystems they inhabit. "Birds don't live in isolation– each species interacts with numerous other animals and plants, as well as elements of the non-living world such as geologic formations and weather systems", said Ivan. Birding requires paying close attention to the nature and understand the interconnections in the ecosystem.Thus, birding helps one to remain connected to nature.

Is birding good for health? We all know that any physical activity is good for health. In birding one needs to travel to a predetermined destination. After arrival , one has to trek, take a vehicle or a boat to locate the birds depending on the habitat one is looking for. In woodlands, trekking will help spanning different heights of the land to reach the birds. In swamps, one needs to travel in small hand pushed boats to be close to these creatures. On the other hand, vehicle is a necessity for birding in Wildlife Sanctuaries where trekking is prohibited because of presence of wild animals. Once a colourful bird is spotted, the mind is elated for moments even after the bird disappears from sight. Relaxation attained from such elated mind never materializes in our so-called normal day-to-day life due to so many excuses. Thus birding can be a great boon in maintaining sound physical and mental health.

It was around seven in the morning when the hanging mist started slowly disappearing from the sky of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. The two people in the rickshaw ahead of me suddenly stopped and gently alighted with heavy gears in their hands. (In Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, the trips into wilderness are allowed mostly on Rickshaws) .They stood there, eyes fixated at a nearby tree. I also asked the rickshaw puller to stop and looked in their direction. Oh my God, what a scene. The whole tree was adorned by Rosy Starlings, lifer for me. I arranged my gear and started shooting. As I finished, I looked at them. They were smiling at me with a sense of recognition as if we were friends from so many years. Mr. Rajesh Dulera, who runs a camera repairing shop at Mumbai, is an avid naturalist and birder. He visited almost whole of India including Leh-Ladakh to further his hobby. We became good friends over the years from that day onwards. He is at service any time of the day should I need any clarification regarding tit bits of photography. A genuine person with a charming personality. You develop a strong bonding when you meet some one of same wave length. Birding not only brings one closer to nature and rejuvenates one's health and mind, it also paves the pathway for everlasting friendship with like- minded individual.

India is a hot spot for national and International birders because of its abundant nature. The number of different birding spots across the country is enough to keep an enthusiast busy throughout the year. Depending on their need, the birds migrate across the country throughout the seasons. Over hundred species migrate to the Indian Subcontinent in search of food or to avoid harsh climatic condition at their native habitat. There are many birding spots in India popular for their rich avian fauna and flora. Some of the most popular are Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary ( Keoladeo Ghana National Park) near Agra, Pangot near Nainital (famous for Himalayan Birds), Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary near Ahmedabad, Mangalajodi in Odisha, Pulicat Bird Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh, Bhigwan near Pune, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary in Thattekad, Kerala and many more across the country. The North East India has many such birding hotspots like Maguribeel (Part of Dibru-Saikhowa WLS), Charaipung, Joypore Rain Forest in Dibrugarh District of Assam (part of DehingPatkai rain forest), Namdapha, Myodia Trail in Arunachal Pradesh , and Khonoma Village in Nagaland. The Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks of the country also host the migratory birds during different seasons.

There are a few Indian birders and naturalists who have been acclaimed internationally like Jainy Maria, Sudhir Shivaram, Jayanth Sharma, Rathika Ramasamy of present generation. Some of them also run live Nature and Photography courses. Of the lot, Jainy Maria Kuriakose needs special mention. A Doctorate of Chemistry, she left her lucrative career to devote full-time in photography. From the north-east regions of India to the exotic bird havens of Papua New Guinea, she has travelled extensively worldwide to shoot the colourful avian. She had photographed about 1,100 birds in India alone. Her photographs have adorned the pages of several national and international magazines, scientific journals and bird books of great repute.

"I think the most important quality in a birdwatcher is a willingness to stand quietly and see what comes. Our everyday lives obscure a truth about existence - that at the heart of everything there lies a stillness and a light." I think there are no better words than these about birding said by Lynn Thomson when she described her feelings while birding with her eight-year-old son. So let us all chase !