Birder Profile– Pampa Mistri

Pampa’s bird bucket list includes everything from documenting murmuration to ringing a bird. She has extensive Himalayan experience as a trekker and skilled climber. Waders are particularly dear to her heart. Read this interview to find out more about her journey towards becoming one of the most active eBirders from West Bengal today!

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

I live in south Kolkata which is ‘developing’ fast to faster, losing its greenery and urban charm. We are basically from families who settled here, in Kolkata from Bangladesh, as is the story of many more. I was an office goer once, who later had to settle down at home to take charge of elderly and ailing seniors of the family and my toddler. We own a clinic for my husband’s medical services, and I manage that now.

Growing up I’d always teamed up with my elder brothers and the boys of the locality, and involved in outdoor activities–volleyball (my first love), table tennis, cricket, badminton, swimming. During my postgraduation days, I got my first chance to visit the Himalaya–Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib treks and that was love at first sight with the mighty mountains. I started trekking in the Himalaya on a regular basis and completed my basic mountaineering course from NIM, Uttarkashi. My husband being a dedicated trekker, as well as an adventure lover, thankfully I got company to be outdoors.

Despite the initial responsibilities and raising a child, we managed to spend time in nature regularly. My interest in birdwatching came a bit later, but it brought continuous joy. My only regret is that I discovered eBird much later, and I have many bird lists pending for submission. Hopefully, I’ll catch up soon.

2. When and how did you get interested in birding?

I have been a nature enthusiast from the very beginning – always visiting jungles, coastal areas, mountains, and hardly ever going to cities. But surprisingly, I never thought of looking at birds until 2014-15. My bird world had only House Crow (‘Kaak’), Large-billed Crow (‘Daarkaak’), House Sparrow (‘Charaai’), Common Myna (‘Shalik’), Pied Myna (‘Guye Shalik’), Asian Koel (‘Kokil’), Black-hooded Oriole (‘Bene Bou’), Greater Coucal (‘Kubo’) and parakeets (‘Tia paakhi’). During 2014, our township residents started a Facebook group and a woman, named Sukanya, started posting photographs of birds that she saw in and around our township. Her photos made me wonder at the variety of birds we had in our area. Amazement turned into curiosity, and I also started looking at birds. This was my initial introduction to the amazing world of birds!

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

No particular bird as ‘favourite’ till now. But I love watching shore birds/waders most. Their movements, feeding, plumages, life circle, migration amazes me.

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

Yes, I have some ‘favourite’ birders with whom I prefer birding. Their attitude, mentality fits well with mine. More than anything, their deep interest in birds and sharing what they know about birds has taught me a lot. Opportunities to bird with them has changed the whole concept of birding to me!

I never do birding alone. I always do birding with one birding partner at least. It helps to discuss, as well as to learn. I find it peaceful too. Birding with more than 3-4 people, I find little chaotic and uncomfortable.

5. What is your most memorable birding experience?

The visit to see Swamp Grass Babbler (Swamp Prinia) in Maguri Grassland, was very eventful, starting from the very beginning, till the very end. It remains one of my lifetime memories!

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

So many..

I want to see many more shorebirds/waders in their breeding plumage
I want to undertake a Pelagic birding trip
I want to visit Manipur for birding
I want to see Penguins, Seals, Whales
I want to have the experience of ringing a bird
I want to see and record the murmuration of starlings;
And last but not the least, to see all the birds that are found in India

All these are ‘some’ of my bucket list! I wish that I would have started birding earlier.

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?

Though I love and enjoy both, but I prefer b. Because, 1- it gives me the opportunity to do full time, dedicated birding and 2. I get the chance see more new birds. I am 57, I want to see as many as birds possible before I have to stop!

8. How has your approach to birding changed over the years? (optional)

A lot has changed! During my initial days of birding, it was more an urge to ‘count’ than ‘watching’ without ‘learning’ anything! The approach was to take a ‘whatever’ kind of a photo of the bird, then try to identify it matching with the field guides. Now I have learnt to ‘watch’ and ‘know’ the birds better.

9. Have you set any birding goals for the coming months?