My daughter hates to wake up early. On Sundays however, she wakes up at the crack of dawn and rushes 18 kms away to a large lake where her best friend is waiting for her with a pair of binoculars. They are both waiting for the dawn and the sight of the water birds taking off in the new light of the day. What, one may ask, is so interesting about birdwatching?

Why?

Aficionados will say that birdwatching is one of the most rewarding hobbies, both in terms of sheer joy and the knowledge of avians one acquires. Little, according to them, compares to the delight of watching phenomena like male birds flaunting their feathered charms for their females in the breeding season, mating dances of different breeds, nest construction and baby birds in their infancy. The avian world intrigues watchers with its variety of colour and form.

Where?

Great places in India and neighbouring Nepal for birdwatching are Bharatpur, Ranikhet, Kalyani, Chitwan, Annapoorna and Phulchowki. These are all wetlands, national parks and catchment areas. Migratory birds flock here because they provide excellent nesting grounds. Most of these areas have zones earmarked for birdwatchers and have observatory towers from where they can have 'a bird's eye view' of the surrounding countryside!

These places are ideal for people who are curious about birds, other than those found in our immediate surroundings. These enthusiasts are willing to hike across jungles, marshes and wetland areas to the places where these elusive beauties live.

Birdwatching has all the ingredients of high drama with its unpredictability and excitement. One needs a pair of binoculars and if possible a green outfit to get close enough to observe them without crowding their playground. One also needs to get proactive and also take up the responsibility of spreading the good word on avian-fauna preservation, habitat management and eco-friendly norms.

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