Kajal, a forest guard with the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department was captivated by birds shortly after starting her career. Her passion for birds has been unwavering ever since. Read on to know what fascinates her more about birding.
1. Please tell us a bit about yourself. What do you do and where do you live?
I am Kajal Joshi from Shimla, and I work as a forest guard in the Wildlife Wing of the HP Forest Department. I joined the department in 2010 and since the last seven years working in Sarahan Pheasantry for Conservation Breeding Program of Western Tragopan
2. When and how did you get interested in birding?
Birding was introduced to me in 2012 by a fellow birder from the forest department; however, I took it more seriously in 2016. I started birding more frequently under the guidance of a senior birder who has been birding since his childhood and has vast knowledge about them.
3. Do you have a favourite bird or birds? Why is it/are they your favourite?
The list is quite long, but my favourites are Western Tragopan and Grandala; it’s their rarity that fascinates me, and I haven’t seen them in the wild (yet). They both are found in precise habitats in Great Himalayan National Park. While the Western Tragopan is a resident and breeds here, the Grandala is mostly a winter visitor and can be seen in several flocks.
4. Do you have a birding partner or a group you enjoy birding with? How is birding alone different from birding with others?
I usually go birding with someone from the forest department, but I also enjoy birding in groups. Birding in groups has helped me increase my knowledge about birds and I have learned interesting facts about them.
5. What is your most memorable birding experience?
My most memorable birding experience was when we visited Daranghati Wildlife Sanctuary (Wildlife Division-Sarahan) back in 2017, when I first heard the breeding call in the wild of my lifer bird, the Western Tragopan. It was the most wonderful experience I have ever had. All thanks to my mentor, who is responsible for increasing my interest in birding and also for teaching me how to record my observations in eBird. This has further motivated me to listen and learn how to identify birds by their calls.
6. Anything on the birding bucket list? (Doesn’t have to be a bird, could be a place, witnessing a phenomena, etc)
Many places and bird species are on my bucket list. I’d like to visit the Himalayas as well as the southern and northeastern parts of India, in addition to Himachal Pradesh.
7. 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?
Around my district, seeing new birds that you haven’t seen before fuels my passion. It keeps me informed about what changes are happening around me at the regular birding sites and also helps in gathering additional information on a certain species that I have been seeing for many years.
8. How has your approach to birding changed over the years?
When I first began birding, I had no idea it would be so fascinating to observe birds and how they could alter my perception of the world. As I started noticing shifts in the way birds move, behave, adapt to different habitats, and communicate through their calls, it opened up a wealth of information that could be scientifically valuable for research, conservation efforts, and record-keeping. This discovery greatly amazed me and fueled my motivation.
9. Have you set any birding goals for the coming months?
No such goals yet, but I plan to do regular birding exploration in nearby regions because these regions are unexplored.
Header Image: Grandala Grandala coelicolor by Adhirup Ghosh/ Macaulay Library
Congratulations Kajal for featuring on Bird Count India.