When you live on a green verdant campus it is almost expected that you would be interested in nature and wildlife. I have been captivated by animals as a whole since I was young, but my interest in photography and the avian genus began in the thick forests of Kanha National Park. Renowned nationwide for its tigers, leopards and other exotic animals it holds a special place in my heart for igniting my passion for birds.
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Grey Wagtail – A winter visitor to the campus, this bird is rather bold and doesn’t fly even
when people come too close to it.
(Shot at the Staff Hostel Drain) -
Oriental Magpie-Robin – It is not a very colourful bird but can mimic the calls of a variety
of bird species.
(Shot inside Kshitij Park) -
Blue-tailed Bee-Eater – A rather peculiar looking bird which gets its name from its
peculiar habit of eating bees. Here a pair of bee-eaters snack on an insect.
(Shot at the Boat House)
On one of the many safaris that my family took in the park, I witnessed a wake of vultures observing a tiger consuming the carcass of a spotted deer, through my binoculars. I marvelled at the wake’s bald heads, collars of white feathers and their terrifying beaks. This moment marked the beginning of a journey that has lasted for 6 years and will likely last a lifetime.
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Spotted Owlet
(Shot behind Hostel 8) -
Spot-breasted Fantail – A bird which can be considered a miniature peacock (without the colours) as it fans its large tail during courtship rituals.
(Shot inside Kshitij Park) -
Although hard to find during the day, Spotted Owlets can be heard
all over the campus at night .
(Shot behind Hostel 8)
Coming to IIT Bombay, was just the right location for me to hone my photography skills. I have observed and photographed over 130 species of birds in the campus, from the common house crow and its dark plumage to the hard to spot migrant Indian pitta.
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Black-rumped Flameback Woodpecker – A species of bird that was almost never
observed a few years back but now it can often be seen. (Shot inside Kshitij Park) -
Coppersmith Barbet – Named after the tuk-tuk sound it makes which resembles that of a
coppersmith working. Here a pair of Coppersmith Barbets can be seen carrying out a
courtship ritual.
(Shot inside Kshitij Park) -
Shikra – One of the rarer residents on campus, the Shikra is a species of hawk which is
capable of hunting prey as large as a chicken despite its rather small size.
(Shot at the Staff Hostel Drain)
I have and I continue to watch and document their magnificence in my photos. Every bird is spectacular in their own right and through my photos, I spread tales of their glory to anyone willing to listen.
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