Birder Profile: Usha Ramaiah

Avid birder, naturalist, mountaineer and educator- Usha Ramaiah enjoys observing migrant birds especially those are long distance migrants. It was her mother who got her interested in watching birds at a very young age. Continue reading to learn more about her!

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

I worked with the Bharat Scouts & Guides as a Lead Trainer (Guides) honorarily and actively for several years. Also worked with this organisation as a manager of their office for 31 years. After my retirement in 1997, I joined the Sanctuary Asia Magazine as a coordinator for the Kids for Tigers programme––a nature awareness and education initiative. I still continue to do this programme involving schools in Bangalore. I live in Jayanagar, Bangalore.

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

I got interested in birding in my childhood as we lived in Basavanagudi in a large house, with huge trees and a beautiful garden. I used to see and observe a number of birds, insects and a few mammals, like mangoose visiting the garden. My mother who was very much interested in gardening, made me look around the garden and observe the birds. I was also a member of the Girl Guides in the Home School in Basavanagudi where we joined the Bulbul Unit, which helped me stay connected with nature. We learnt songs about birds. Live in the outdoors. This helped me love nature as it involved going for rallies and camps since working in an organisation like the Bharat Scouts & Guides, taught me to be in nature and all skills which would help me stay connected by taking part in trekking and mountaineering activities.

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

My favourite bird in the Red Whiskered Bulbul as I have been seeing this right from my childhood and even now. They are my favourite bird as I see them build nests in the trees around my house. To wake up to their calls Is a wonderful feeling each day. I still see them coming to my bird bath to drink and bath most of the day.

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 do go out with the Bird Watchers Field Club of Bangalore and enjoy birding with this group. Doing birding alone is different to be in a group, we learn more from other experienced bird watchers and naturalists.

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

We, used to go out to places like ‘Tailur’ lake with birdwatchers in some years back. Saw a large number of waterfowl visiting these lakes. Seeing the beautiful birds like Painted Storks and Spot-billed Pelicans at Kokkare Bellur was a wonderful memory. Seeing tigers in Ranthambhore, Pench and Tadoba during the National Camps of the Kids for Tigers, Sanctuary Nature Foundation programme is always been a great experience. My work as a coordinator has kept me involved educating school children to fall in love with nature. Tiger being a metaphor for nature, it gives one opportunity to experience everything in nature, and protect them thereby protecting the entire ecosystem.

6. What aspect of birding do you enjoy the most?

I enjoy looking at different birds, especially to know that birds migrate large distances to come down to India during winter. So migration of birds is what I love most.

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?

I enjoy widespread birding in different locations across different districts and states.

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

My approach to birding has changed over years. I see a number of areas around my own city getting affected by development. We see less birds in locations like Lalbagh and other areas. I fee that we need to protect whatever is remaining. Educating others especially children our future citizen is very important these days.

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

I do want to go out more often with children and the naturalists in the coming months.

10. What is your message for fellow birders?

My message to fellow bird watchers is go out more often to enjoy nature and birds before it is too late. Educate others in your interests too.

Header Image: Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus by Vijaya Lakshmi/ Macaulay Library