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Bird Watching: A Fresh Insight on an Old Hobby

Engage in a never-to-bore-you activity that nurtures bonding with nature, avians, and curious bird watchers

by D J Chakraborty
March 28, 2025
in Hobbies, Lifestyle
Birdwatching_1

A Mountain Bluebird

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The early morning sunshine weaves magic into nature, turning dew into diamonds and silence into a symphony. For those who wander into the shimmering morning light with a pair of binoculars and camera in hand, the world becomes a stage where feathered performers dance on trees, fly high in the sky. Welcome to birdwatching!

Birdwatching or birding, in common terms, means observing the behaviour pattern of birds. This is not just a hobby; it’s a love affair with the wild, a patient pursuit of fleeting beauty. If you are someone who has not yet soaked into the joys of birding, here are some compelling reasons for you to consider starting this activity today at a place of your choosing:

 

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Pocket Lite

Unlike other activities such as scuba diving, golf, cricket, or tennis, birding or bird watching is not an expensive hobby and does not require costly equipment. All you need is a pair of basic binoculars, a will to get up early, a desire to trudge through urban parks and grasslands, and a desire to immerse yourself in nature.

Regarding binoculars, some advice: Buy anything with a decent zoom and a good lens. Ensure that it is not too heavy or cumbersome to operate. It would be great to try one out before buying.

You can try out available options at Decathlon or Croma stores. Any nearby photo equipment store may also have a decent options available from Nikon and Olympus. If you want to buy online, look for something within the range of Rs 1500—Rs 8,500. Offline retailers near you could also provide you with some great deals.

A second step would be to invest in a point-and-shoot bridge camera with a decent zoom and venture to birding locations far and close.

Rufous Woodpecker Photo: D J Chakraborty

Geography Agnostic

Whether you stay near verdant forestscapes or in the urban jungles, any geography can be suitable for birdwatching.

Birds are great at adapting to their environment, whether in nature or among us. So, watch for the trees in your neighbourhood or a nearby park or lake. You can always visit nearby green patches, larger waterbodies, or even old buildings to glimpse feathered wonders.

You can choose to do birding simply anywhere, even from a terrace. Choice of timings can be morning and evening, as both are great times when birds are most active and are out hunting. It is important to familiarise yourself with birds in your area. Understand their behavioural pattern. Get a fair idea of their habitat. Try to understand their annual migrating patterns and mating seasons.

There are many Social Media posts on exotic birding locations like Costa Rica, the exotic forests of the Amazon Delta, Papua New Guinea, Borneo, and South Africa. My advice is very simple: Make it a point to pursue your hobby in areas that you can visit very often whenever you have free time, at any time of the day, or whenever you feel stressed out. In birding, the first step is always to develop your expertise locally.

Diverse Community

Whether you are an inquisitive beginner or a seasoned professional, birding is a fun activity for everyone. Seriously, for everyone.

I have encountered bird watchers from age 12 onwards and encourage my six-year-old grandkid to join me on my morning sojourns. There is no age restriction to birding as a hobby for nature lovers. You can look at birds, learn to identify them, marvel at their colours and antics, whether you are 8 or 80.

For ages, birds and birdwatching as an activity have had a profound influence on varied fields like fashion, music, photography, aviation, architecture, and more. Today, the crowd comprises technology professionals, new-age white-collar professionals, government officials and even creative minds. Come step out , and see who you meet.

A Blue Capped Rock Thrush              Photo: D J Chakraborty

Nature’s Classroom

Birding is not just about instilling nature education—knowing the various bird species, their geographies, migration routes, etc. Instead, it is a unique outdoor educational experience powered by nature.

You will learn how nature wakes up and how the wildlife engages in morning activities. You will learn about the animals that frequent those hours and the geographical changes taking place across continents.

The lifelong learning you would gain about ecology and biodiversity can be considered a byproduct of an activity like birding. However, the most important learning that birding can teach you in the middle of nature is learning to be meditatively mindful and patient.

Nature’s Clinic

The benefits of the morning sun for the human body are a well-known fact.

So, forget about feeling tired; on your birding journey, you will experience a better sleep cycle, improved circadian rhythm, better mental health, and boosted energy levels.

Birding improves our focus and patience manifold. These are essential life qualities that can help us deal with stressful situations in our professional world and prevent them from taking a toll on our mental health.

Qualities like observation, focus, concentration and patience will help you to weather rough seas in your work front and give you resilience. You have often heard the saying “when the going gets tough, the tough gets going” – I am well aware that this is a management cliché. But to be honest, it is these qualities of observation, focus, concentration, and patience that actually help the tough get going.

A Purple rumped Sunbird                     Photo: D J Chakraborty

Knowledge Sharing

While you meet a diverse group of people on your birding sojourns, the activity itself becomes a great platform to share professional experiences, exchange notes, or seek recommendations for business or work.

I personally have many friends who are doctors, chartered accountants, IT professionals, Government officials, entrepreneurs. It is a lovely platform for networking and gaining knowledge. Most of them I have utilised to learn about career options, health advice, nature education, and much more.

Birders engage on platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to educate fellow birders about the movement of new species of birds, efficient camping and photography gear, or destinations for their next two-day birding trips.

Indian Pitta                 Photo: D J Chakraborty

Last Words

I can recount many more advantages of birding, one of which is how the hobby has transformed me as a wildlife photographer or how it became a people’s movement when it came to conserving an urban waterbody in my city.

India and the subcontinent’s geographical diversity is also a paradise for birders. Every geographical feature is present here, from mountains to plains, deserts to seas, and so is a wide variety of flora, fauna, and climate, from tropical to arctic.

India’s geographical diversity is mirrored by the diversity of its avian population, which is an impressive 1,377 bird species strong and growing. From the Majestic Indian Peafowl, its national bird, to the rare endemic species that highlight this unrivalled biodiversity, this diversity underscores India’s ecological richness.

The urgent need for conservation efforts is emphasised, as 212 of the species, constituting 12% of the global avifauna population, are facing threats to extinction.

At a time like this, when you come out in your trekking shoes with your jungle cap, binoculars, and camera lenses in hand, you are not just walking into any other hobby; you are stepping into a mission to conserve nature.

Tags: binocularsbird watchingbirdersbirdingbirdwatching in Indiabirdwatching near menature photogrpahytravelwildlife photography
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D J Chakraborty

D J Chakraborty

Dhurab Jyoti 'DJ' Chakraborty is an avid birder well known in the birding circles. His passion for wildlife photography has won him international and national acclaim. A former professor and gold medalist in History from Presidency College, DJ has also served as a journalist and is now retired as a corporate honcho.

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