Birder Profile—Chaiti Banerjee

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

Chaiti Banerjee

Please tell us a bit about yourself. What do you do, and where do you live?
I live in Kolkata and am a biology teacher at a government high school in Salt Lake. I have been teaching for more than twenty years and am very passionate about my profession. Also, I am a single and proud mother to two wonderful boys, now both adults. So now I am occupied with mainly three things: household chores, especially cooking, which I love; teaching; and birding.

When and how did you get interested in birding?
I was born in Manchester, UK, to doctor parents. Both of them are great nature lovers, and even then, we had books about common birds and wildlife of Great Britain. So this connection with nature was always there. Ma was a great influence on me and my brother; it was she who taught us about the common birds that we see around us. However, it was only in 2019, after my sons left home for work and higher studies, that I got the time to pursue birding in an organised way. Gradually, I became acquainted with so many eminent personalities and came to know about bird books and birding hotspots, all of which helped in my birding journey.

Do you have a favourite bird or birds? Why is it/are they your favourite?
Choosing a favourite among so many is really difficult. I enjoy watching all of them, from sparrows to crows to owls to raptors. But if I have to choose one, I think it is the Purple Sunbird, my friendly neighbour— whole family lives near my apartment, and all day long, they come calling and singing on the white silk cotton tree just outside my window. Even hearing their calls in the morning gives me immense joy. I find their energy very infectious.

Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus by Chaiti Banerjee

Do you have a birding partner or a group you enjoy birding with? How is birding alone different from birding with others?
My birding partner is my brother, Swarup Sarkar. I am very lucky that he too shares my love for travelling and nature-watching. I also enjoy birding with Samim Akhter. Swarup is a great spotter, and Samim is a wizard with calls, so I come to benefit from both worlds!
I have gone birding alone a few times and encountered some challenges. I’ve found that as a woman with binoculars and a camera, I sometimes attract unwanted attention. However, this hasn’t stopped me from exploring nearby places on my own, as I know they are safe. I also enjoy birding from my window, terrace, and verandah. I do enjoy birding in a group, we have the opportunity to learn from one another, engage in discussions, and enjoy sharing jokes and delicious meals together. (It’s a common trait among birders to have a great sense of humour and a love for good food.). So birding with like-minded fellow birders is a great experience. However, I do birding from my window, terrace, and verandah on my own.

What is your most memorable birding experience?
I have enjoyed most of my birding trips, so choosing one is tough. Our last year’s Ladakh trip was really great. The landscape, weather, birds, mammals—everything was perfect, and our guide was a gem. Since this was the first time my elder son had joined us, it made the experience extra memorable.

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

• I have a secret wish to visit each and every state of India at least once in my lifetime.
• I also wish to visit Nagaland to see the Amur Falcons.
• I wish to see all the migratory birds in their breeding plumages on their breeding grounds.
• I someday hope to bird in my birthplace.

Shikra Accipiter badius by Chaiti Banerjee

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 enjoy both. But watching any bird from my window or verandah, even today, gives me a little more happiness.

How has your approach to birding changed over the years? (optional)
Documentation on eBird has changed my approach a bit, I guess. So wherever and whenever I go birding, I try to make a checklist. It gives me a sense of satisfaction that, in my own way, I am trying to make some contribution.

Have you set any birding goals for the coming months?
In the upcoming months, I have planned multiple trips to North Bengal, including Singalila National Park—a place I’ve yet to explore. Last year, my battle with cancer meant missing out on the entire spring-summer season. This year, I’m looking forward to making up for lost time. The experience has taught me to cherish every small moment and find joy in all that I do.

Header Image:  Collared Falconet Microhierax caerulescens by Chaiti Banerjee/ Macaulay Library