Birder Profile–Anamika Chandran

Anamika was most impressed and inspired by the book- The Fall of a Sparrow, written by Dr. Sálim Ali and further by other events like the Onam Bird Count, Kerala’s Young Birders Group. Read on to know how a 14 yr old Anamika became interested in the hobby of birdwatching.

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

I am from Kozhikode, Kerala and I am studying in class 9. I like spending time in nature watching birds, butterflies, and various other animals. I was a reporter at Mathrubhumi SEED for the last three years.  As a Seed reporter, I brought the environmental issues of my locality to the public’s attention through various activities and news reports.

When and how did you get interested in birding?

My fascination with nature began while I was in primary school. I have been watching birds for the past 3 years (and seriously as part of citizen science initiative since the last year). I was inspired reading the Malayalam version of The Fall of a Sparrow . Through this book, I learned a lot about birding and the importance of birds.

In 2021, I attended a few sessions during the Onam Bird Count, which again boosted me to take up birding. My mentors in Kerala Young Birders (a WhatsApp group) helped me a lot to learn more about birds. I also got the opportunity to participate in a four-week online workshop conducted by “Early Bird” in November 2021. This encouraged me to study about bird behavior, their habitats, and migration. I made new birdwatching friends from different states of India during this workshop. All these incidents and events combined got me very excited about birds, and birding became a serious hobby!

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

Nothing in particular, as all birds are my favourites. I find bird behaviour to be quite interesting, and I particularly like to observe what they do.

Where do you enjoy birding the most?

I enjoy birding most at the place where I’ve grown up, and my backyard is where I started my birdwatching. We have a sacred grove close to my home called “Kalloorkavu,” and I also enjoy birding here because I see many woodland species. I have observed more than 80 species of birds in my backyard: Malabar Grey Hornbill, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Dark-fronted Babbler, Slaty-legged Crake, Lesser Yellownape, and Heart spotted Woodpecker, to name a few. This year, I kept listening to the Slaty-legged Crake that kept calling almost every night during the monsoon.

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

Although I like to birding alone but birding with others is also fun, and we can learn many new things. My first birding partner was my mom, with whom I started watching birds. I also enjoy birding with Kozhikode Birders. In May 2022, I got the opportunity to go for a bird survey in Vanaparvam Biodiversity Park, Kozhikode, as a part of World Endemic Day, and I could meet other birdwatchers from my district.

Anything on the birding bucket list? (It doesn’t have to be a bird, could be a place, witnessing a phenomenon, etc.)

My bucket list is filled with a lot of birding dreams. I wish to explore many places—not just Kerala but all around India to see more species. I would like to visit the Himalayas, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. I wish to go on a pelagic trip. I want to see all the endemic bird species in the world.

Has eBird changed how you bird? How?

Yes, eBird has helped me a lot to maintain my bird lists! It has helped me become more systematic in my birding. It is also a great diary for me. The Merlin Bird ID App is really great and helpful—a virtual field guide that I check multiple times a day to learn about birds. I record birds, upload them to eBird, record their calls, and share them in our WhatsApp groups, which inspires other kids to do the same. The eBird photo-sound quiz greatly expanded my knowledge.

Have you set any birding goals for the coming months?

Currently, I have nothing planned, however, I will continue to observe birds wherever I go and upload my observations to eBird.

What is your message for fellow birders?

Birding is a great way to study nature. Even by observing common birds, we can learn new things about their behavior. One can find joy in birding by observing their behaviour. Many bird habitats are being destroyed. It’s our duty to conserve them. Uploading our bird observations also helps in understanding many facts about bird species and, eventually, in conservation.

Header Image: Slaty-legged Crake Rallina eurizonoides by Narender Khaira/ Macaulay Library