Feathered Friends

A BIRDING FESTIVAL IN UTTAR PRADESH INTRODUCES PRECIOUS KAMEI TO THE WINGED WONDERS OF THE STATE

- Precious Kamei

In early February, I found myself at the third UP Bird Festival, a three-day annual event, and a fine one at that. To get the most out of it, I decided to arm myself with background research. But the more I read, the more intimidated I got by the variety of wildlife on offer. Finally, I decided that the best way to study the wild was to be in the wild.

Organised by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, the festival seeks to promote the protection of birds and wildlife in general, as well as eco-tourism in the state. I looked forward to gaining insights on the conservation of avifauna from field experts. Little did I know that it was going to change my entire outlook on birds.

The Lucknow–Dudhwa drive was long and tiresome. But nobody complained, for there were sightings aplenty en route. Halfway into the journey, one of the guests pointed to a pair of sarus cranes in a field. And out came the binoculars. Then, someone else spotted an Indian roller on a tree and a honey buzzard up in the air. As long as daylight permitted, all of us were focussed outside; then began the sharing of birding experiences and photographs. I was introduced to the term ‘lifer’—one’s first ever sighting of a particular species. This trip was going to be a series of lifers for me.

Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich districts of UP are home to three biodiversity hubs—Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. Together, they make up Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. The landscape is a combination of marsh, grassland, and dense sal and teak forest—perfect territory for the tiger, leopard, greater one-horned rhinoceros, elephant and swamp deer (barasingha). A vast alluvial plain runs along the tributaries of the Mohana and Suheli rivers. The rivulets here provide a safe haven for numerous resident as well as migratory birds.