Why Birds?

Our best way to inspire conservation action...

Hey friends,

Greetings from Delhi, India!

I just returned from a week trekking in the Himalayas. With every visit to these fabled mountains, I grow more convinced that I’ve found a part of myself there. Its mystical oak and pine forests, trickling streams and towering peaks—all speak to something inside me. I am in love with this part of the world, and will stop at nothing to return.

During this trip, my binoculars almost never left my eyes. I was looking for birds everywhere. That’s because the avians here are unlike the ones I’m used to in the rainforests and deciduous jungles of the south. They are like their southern cousins, but with deliberate mistakes—bulbuls without colour, flycatchers with too many colours…you get the idea. 

As I went berserk, documenting all the birds I saw, I thought about why these avians are our best hope in inspiring people to conserve wildlife. 

Wherever you’re reading this from, chances are that there are birds around you. Actually, why don’t you close your laptop/phone right now and walk up to the nearest window. I’m certain there’s at least one feathered friend flying across your view.

Birds are everywhere. And that makes them relatable, which in turn makes them the best asset for conservation because you can’t save nature if you don’t relate to it.

Think about it. I would love to save polar bears, but the sad reality is that I’ve never seen one. They live in such inaccessible places that I’m pretty sure you haven’t seen one, too. Most people haven’t. So how can we ask huge crowds of people to save an animal that they haven’t even glimpsed once?

Male Indian Peafowl (Peacock in common vocabulary)

My guess is that if we tell people about the wildlife in their own backyards, they’d be more inclined to learn more. This was the philosophy that made me make 2 bird field guides—one for my farm in a rural part of Kerala, and the other for my University in a drab corner of Haryana. Both were received with a lot of enthusiasm—the locals I showed it to didn’t know about the astonishing diversity of life that lived right next to them.

Bird watching is the modern, adult version of collecting Pokemon. And trust me, it’s very addictive. As your species list increases, so does your enthusiasm. Trust me; I want to see all the 1200+ bird species of India. Who knows what I might want after I achieve this?

A Brahminy Kite

I think we need many localised guides (like the one I created) across the globe. Because these guides empower people to identify birds themselves. They have photographs and names that people can use to ID the birds they see. I’ve seen the satisfaction people get from IDing a bird by themselves. It shows them that birdwatching isn’t a hobby restricted to those who have studied birds. It’s a passion we can all share. 

So I ask you this; the next time you’re out, look at the birds around you. Hop on Google. Learn about the birds that are around you. 

There are resources that can help you. Go ahead and download Merlin, an app that will help you ID birds. It is very user friendly. They

If you want to learn more about the bird life where you live, have a look at ebird. eBird is a citizen science project developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. It's an online platform where birdwatchers from around the world can report their bird sightings, creating a vast database of bird distribution and abundance. This data is used for scientific research, conservation efforts, and to promote birding as a recreational activity. eBird also provides tools for users to explore bird sightings, contribute to regional checklists, and connect with other birders.

Postcard

I’ve found a part of myself in these mountains. I’ve never felt more alive, terrified, mesmerised, curious, wonderstruck, and emotional all at once.

That’s the power of the Himalayas…

Favourite Quote

“Your story must reflect change over time. A story cannot simply be a series of remarkable events. You must start out as one version of yourself and end as something new." - Matthew Dicks.

Have a creative, wild and inspiring week!

If you’re new, welcome to The Owlet! My name is Ishan Shanavas, and I am an Artist, Photographer, Writer and Student of the Natural World.

Here I talk about my work, along with curating the most interesting ideas on the internet. I confine them to topics like Nature, Culture, Photography, and Art but often fall prey to other genres.

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