Bird-watching Workshop with V Santharam Sir

Santharam Sir, director of Institute of bird studies and Natural History - Rishi Valley, was at Sahyadri during the second half of January for a birdwatching workshop. We were grateful for the opportunity and interested students (grade 7 and above) and adults went for bird walks with him during mornings and evenings in and around the campus.

Earlier we saw little point in just looking at birds and remembering their names. But Santharam Sir changed the way we looked at birds. He told us that birdwatching does not mean only seeing and naming the birds. It also means observing the birds closely, looking at the small details that we don’t notice otherwise, using our binoculars and also making notes. With him, suddenly the birds seemed to look more magnificent and their behaviour too was fun to observe.

He also told us about different birds. One of the species we discussed with him is the Great Indian Hornbill. The female locks itself up in a hollow of a tree trunk with its chicks. Its only source of food is that given by the male. The male makes repeated trips to the tree trunk to deliver the food. So, if the male dies the hornbill and her chicks will starve to death.

After reading this I hope that you will take the effort to wake up in time and join us for birdwatching. And, when you do, please come with the idea of watching the different birds closely and patiently; not only to name them.