In my first fieldwork experience in the arid landscape of Kutch, I was captivated by the region’s rich species diversity. One day, while working with local communities in Fulay village, I heard an unfamiliar chirping sound. Curious, I looked around and finally spotted the source: a large Prosopis shrub that almost looked like a tree, standing next to a Salvadora persica. To my surprise, there was a small flock of birds with muddy-colored feathers and distinctive beaks, feeding on the Salvadora. I wasn’t sure of the species, but I had a hunch they might be the Grey Hypocolius, a bird I had read about extensively and always hoped to see. To confirm, I asked a local resident about the bird’s local name. He called it ‘Maskati latoro’, which matched with the name I had come across in my research. With excitement, I took several photographs and later verified my sighting with reference books. Indeed, they were the Grey Hypocolius, a rare migratory bird that typically visits the Kutch area in winter from Muscat. A small flock of around 40-60 individuals stays for a few months, feasting on Pilu (Salvadora berries). This encounter was a highlight of my fieldwork, adding a rare sighting to my list and deepening my appreciation for the unique wildlife of Kutch. The experience not only fulfilled a personal goal but also enriched my understanding of the region’s biodiversity and the importance of preserving these unique habitats.
Grey Hypocolius birds on Salvadora and Prosopis juliflora
This is how my interest in birds and nature took shape..
When I was in the third grade, I read a story based on the Dudhwa National Park titled “Adventure in Dudhwa.” The character of a boy my age and his adventure in Dudhwa fascinated me and made me want to visit the national park. I repeatedly asked my father to take me there, but due to social and financial reasons, he couldn’t. Undeterred, I created my own jungle world in my diary, where I started to stick pictures of animals, articles, and information published in newspapers and magazines. That diary is still with me. I never imagined how one story could change my destiny.
Childhood diary where I glued wildlife pictures
I began reading more about nature, birds and animals, whatever was published in the newspapers at the time. I remember reading bird articles by Ranjit Lal in the Times of India, often not fully understanding them but reading them nonetheless. I was captivated by stories, especially folklore, where animals often played the main roles. The vivid characters in these tales fascinated me, and I dreamed of seeing these creatures in real life. This curiosity led me to watch wildlife documentaries, and I was particularly inspired by the program ‘Earth Matters” by Mike Pandey on Doordarshan. I never missed a single episode, absorbing everything I could about the natural world and its inhabitants.
The story of Dudhwa kept me inspired for years, and finally, in 2013, during my graduation in Forestry from Allahabad Agriculture Institute Deemed University, I chose to do my dissertation on ‘Avian species of Dudhwa National Park’, where I got the opportunity to go to Dudhwa and conduct my research there. It felt like a dream come true and gave me immense confidence. No one had taken me to Dudhwa, but I had made my own way to visit and fulfill my childhood dream and this is how I started my destiny.
Revisiting Dudhwa National Park for field work ( WWF India)
As I grew older, my understanding and dreams evolved, shaping my career aspirations. From then on, my journey of traveling, exploring, and dreaming about different landscapes began. Reading about and observing nature around me made me passionate about the environment and pushed me to work for its conservation. Due to my passion, I did my masters in Environment Management from Forest Research Institute Dehradun. During post graduation I had done my dissertation on ‘Carbon sequestration of Bamboo forest of Dasuya forest, Hoshiarpur Punjab’.
Currently, I am a freelance ecologist and researcher. I am currently involved in documenting the folklores of Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh and understanding how folklores and community beliefs can help in making a long term conservation goal. My previous work on Sarus Crane and their relationship with the humans, produced the documentary ‘Sarus ke des mein’ under the Coexistence Consortium fellowship.
Field visit to Awadh region while working on Sarus cranes
I love what I do because…
In our field, there are countless moments when I feel like I’m living the most beautiful experiences of my life. Whether it’s sitting by a river, observing an animal, identifying a tree, or listening to stories from the local community, each moment holds a unique charm. I’ve never returned from the field feeling disappointed in all my years of experience. There is always something new to learn, discover or just forming a new connection or just experiencing those small yet meaningful gestures, each field experience creates a sense of belonging and warmth even in unfamiliar places.
I remember when I got the chance to walk along the Betwa River during the ‘Moving Upstream fellowship’. On the third day of our walk, we didn’t expect to find a village where we could take shelter for the night. After walking nearly 20-21 kilometers, we finally found a place, a home where a 70 year old woman, whom we called Amma, welcomed us. She cooked for us even though it was late. I remember that every night after that, until I reached home from the Riverwalk, she would call to check on me, and asked, “How far have you walked today? Let me know if you face any trouble? You’re not too far now.” Though I was out in the open, wandering far from home, I carried a sense of warmth and security with me, the feeling of having a home in her care and love.
Betwa river walk in Budelkhand region under Moving Upstream fellowship
Challenges I have faced..
There are many challenges in our field, but the most significant one is my gender identity, especially if you come from an underprivileged background. There is a lot of bias in the system regarding education, language, class, and caste. Another issue is that there simply are not enough job opportunities for the number of people who would like to continue to work in this field. I have seen people struggling to find jobs and many end up being underpaid for their skills and dedication which definitely demotivates people and makes it difficult for them to survive.
My advice to young researchers is…
Young researchers should observe the local biodiversity around them, keep an eye on it, and make notes on a daily basis if they want to pursue a career in ornithology. This practice will help researchers develop their skills and deepen their understanding of different species. Through such observations, along with the existing literature, one can formulate hypotheses for their research. There is still very little work done on avian species.
Astha Chaudhary
Freelance Ecologist
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