Birder Profile—Chitra Shanker

Birder Profile is a monthly series from Bird Count India, where we share stories of bird enthusiasts from all over India.

Chitra Shanker

Please tell us a bit about yourself. What do you do and where do you live?

I am an entomologist with a doctorate in agricultural entomology from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and work at the ICAR, Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad. My current research focuses on habitat conservation strategies in rice crop to enhance biological control of insects and reduce insecticide use

When and how did you get interested in birding? 

I have been watching birds since my school days, have been part of nature clubs, and have gone trekking to watch birds during my college days, which has continued till date. During my childhood, I lived in Neyveli, a small town in Tamil Nadu. In our yard, we had a huge garden with numerous trees, including two Albizzia lebbek trees. During March–April, the new flushes on this tree attracted caterpillars of the moth Rhesala imparata. Many birds, including paradise flycatchers, orioles, and wagtails, fed on them, giving me ample opportunity to observe them up close. Although I had no resources to identify them, we had special names for each species. I have watched tailorbirds, sunbirds, and bulbuls build their nests from scratch until the young fledged.

Do you have a favourite bird or birds? Why is it/are they your favourite?

Though I really do not have a fixed favourite and love them all, including the brown bobs, the Indian Paradise-Flycatcher is special, as it got my daughter interested too at a very young age. My friend Tiffany Mason introduced me to the Pink Cockatoo, also known as Major Mitchell’s cockatoo of Australia, a bird that holds special memories for me. I was desperate to see one, and when she pointed it out, I missed it. While returning, we made a comfort stop, and, by chance, we saw not one but seventeen of them roosting in the trees!

Do you have a birding partner or a group you enjoy birding with? How is birding alone different from birding with others?

I have often birded alone, but I do have a lot of friends with whom I enjoy birding. Sharing the passion with other birders is exhilarating. I am a life member of the Deccan Birders, but I also bird with friends from Hyderabad Birding Pals and others from outside the state.

What is your most memorable birding experience?

It is a very difficult question to answer, as there are many. One such experience involves observing an unusual hunting behavior. I was watching some migratory ducks in a small stream behind our office farm when, suddenly, a Western Marsh Harrier swooped on a Gadwall. It held it under water, and the duck’s movement under the water caused the harrier to drift for a while. But some disturbance from the banks made the raptor let go, and the duck disappeared in a jiffy.

Anything on the birding bucket list? (Doesn’t have to be a bird, could be a place, witnessing a phenomena, etc)

I am looking forward to experiencing the migration of the Amur Falcons one day. I have two more goals on my list: joining the group to track Jerdon’s Courser, which I hope to accomplish, and seeing the Nicobar Megapode and Narcondam Hornbill.

Which of the two do you enjoy more and why: a) regular birding around your house/local patch/district, or b) widespread birding in different landscapes across different districts and states?

I am basically a patch birder, and I have been making bird lists from my office rice fields and surroundings for years. I have recorded 180 bird species from the patch. But then. A new place, a new environment, and new species that include birds, butterflies, and flora can all be as thrilling as a treasure hunt.

How has your approach to birding changed over the years? 

Early on, I was just watching birds and did not even care about knowing their names. In college, I learned to identify birds by word of mouth from seniors. My husband gifted me my first bird book in 1995 when he discovered my interest in birds. I remember watching a Red-breasted Flycatcher for the first time in Nagpur, fluttering its wings, watching Spotted Owlets bobbing their heads and getting excited to read a similar descriptions in The Book of Indian Birds by Dr. Salim Ali. Though the field guide may not have many species, the small notes on behavior are very endearing.

Since 2006, I’ve been a member of the Deccan Birders and have taken a more formal approach to bird watching. However, eBird opened up avenues like never before. Until 2021, my birding has mostly been wherever I travelled, either officially or on vacations. I used to check on birds I could see in the area or any hotspot close by. But after 2021, I undertook birding-only tours, armed with complete checklists for each location. eBird has significantly contributed to the development of my hobby into a scientific endeavor, particularly in the compilation of my upcoming book, “Birds of Indian Rice Fields”. It has helped me connect with people I haven’t met before but who share my passion.

Have you set any birding goals for the coming months?

I’ve been trying to get audio recordings of all the birds in my patch. I would really like to focus on that in the coming months. I also have some observations I want to follow up on. For instance, I want to monitor the migration of Wood Sandpiper in relation to the rice cropping season, as well as the movement of Blue-tailed Bee-eater in and out of my patch. I also want to restart my checklist-a-day every day.

Header Image: Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus © Abhishek Das/ Macaulay Library