Dhanusha Kawalkar

It was a bright day, and I was ready for the day-long data collection. I eagerly scanned for the swiftlets, but they were nowhere to be seen. By noon, I had spotted Little Swifts, Asian Palm Swifts, Swallows, and every other bird except the Indian Swiftlet!

Oct 25, 2024 | 2 comments

Among my most memorable times on the field, there are numerous incidents involving the swiftlets, but my favourite remains when I first observed them feeding their chicks. I was amazed to learn how the swiftlets forage throughout the day, constantly returning to the chicks to feed them. As part of my doctoral fieldwork, I had a component on collecting foraging behavior data for around 14 hours. It was a bright day, and I was ready for the day-long data collection. I eagerly scanned for the swiftlets, but they were nowhere to be seen. By noon, I had spotted Little Swifts, Asian Palm Swifts, Swallows, and every other bird except the Indian Swiftlet! As evening approached, I continued my search; finally, around 6 pm, I heard a distant “chirk-chirk” call. The swiftlets produce this electrifying call mostly when they follow each other in the flock. I saw them flying over the wetland and then drinking water in mid-flight. That moment is still and will remain my most prized possession. The long wait had been worth it. 

Observing the swiftlets’ foraging and nesting behaviors was a truly captivating experience that provided valuable insights into their roles and adaptations to their environment. The dedication and persistence required to study these elusive birds in their natural habitat only served to heighten my appreciation for their remarkable abilities and the importance of continued research in this field

The Indian Swiftlet. Photo by Shirish Manchi

This is how my love for birds and nature took shape..
I don’t exactly remember when my interest in nature emerged, but I believe we are all connected to the natural world at some level, and the difference lies in our awareness of this connection. I believe it was somewhere in my teenage years that I became aware and started realising my love for the environment especially animals. Later, during my undergraduate years, I started engaging with tribal communities and tried to understand their relationship with nature. This was a turning point for me, as it led me to question nature’s processes, and since then, I have begun my journey of scientific exploration. In 2012, I volunteered at animal hospitals in Nagpur while pursuing my Bachelor’s in Social Work at the Matru Sewa Sangh Institute of Social Work (MSSISW). Studying social work brought me closer not just to the communities but also to the forest and wildlife.

During my second year, while conducting a social research project on the livelihoods of the communities in the Navegaon-Nagzira landscape, I decided it was important to understand both human and wildlife ecology if I wanted to work in conservation. This decision became firm and was supported by my grandfather Shri. Ashok Ballal (Retd. Ex-PCCF, Maharashtra) and Dr Keshav Walke (Professor, MSSISW) pushed me to pursue a post-graduation in Wildlife Conservation Action at the Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research in Pune from 2015 to 2017. There, under the guidance of Dr Erach Bharuaha, Dr Shamita Kumar, Dr Kranti Yardi, Dr Rahul Mungikar, Dr Kazween Umrigar, Ms Gouri Joshi (Faculties at BVIEER), Dr Ankush Dubey (Ex-Veternarian, Katraj Snake Park), and Dr Rajkumar Jadhav (Director, Katraj Zoo), I was able to build a strong foundation as a researcher. My first research exposure for the Master’s thesis was in the reserve forests of the Nagpur Forest Division, where I studied the occupancy of tigers and attempted to understand human-tiger interactions. Gradually, I also started exploring other taxa, determined not to miss any opportunities. While exploring, I fortunately met Mr. Jose Louies (CEO, Wildlife Trust of India and Founder, indiansnakes.org) who introduced me to the world of snakes through a study focused on snake-bite mitigation in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. 

I was then finally lucky to meet Dr Manchi Shirish S (Principal Scientist, SACON-WII) who came for a guest lecture at BVIEER. His presentation on the conservation of caves and birds in Andaman and Nicobar Islands was inspirational and well as provided me with enough thrust to become a hardcore researcher. It was through the opportunity provided by him that I was able to join the “Edible-nest Swiftlet” Conservation project in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands which is amongst the most successful conservation projects in India. This collaboration marked a significant turning point in my academic and professional journey, as it served as my first foray into the captivating world of caves – a realm I had yet to fully explore. Seldom did I realize then the impact this experience would have on the direction of my research and conservation efforts. 

As a child, I always dreamt of becoming a researcher and scientist. This childhood aspiration gradually materialized into reality. In nature, nothing captivated me quite like caves and their inhabitants. I am deeply fascinated by the diverse array of cave-dwelling creatures and how they thrive in such a harsh, seemingly inhospitable environment. How do these species survive within the confines of dark, narrow caves? How do they behave in utter darkness? Are they not fearful of unseen predators? Questions such as these have specifically directed the course of my research. Now, nearly eight years have passed since I began endeavoring to answer these questions using various cave-dwelling animals as my model species. This passion for understanding the unique adaptations and behaviors of these remarkable species has driven my work and fuelled my desire to uncover the secrets of the subterranean world.

Currently, I am a PhD Scholar at the Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (South India Centre of Wildlife Institute of India) with Dr Manchi Shirish S. as my supervisor. As part of my doctoral thesis, I have attempted to understand the breeding ecology of the Indian Swiftlet (Aerodramus unicolor) in the Western Ghats, West Coast, and offshore islands of Maharashtra (2020-2024). Over the past four years, my research has focused on comprehensively examining their population status, distribution, breeding behavior, and foraging ecology. I have also played an instrumental role in the in-situ and ex-situ conservation of the Andaman Edible-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus inexpectatus) in Andaman Islands (2017-2020), the preparation of the State Action Plan for the conservation of avian diversity in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (2024), mapping biological diversity in caves of Vengurla rocks in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra (2023). Additionally, I am involved in several ongoing interdisciplinary projects including the mapping of indigenous geographies and traditional ecological knowledge of Gond communities, as well as the study of socio-biodiversity in the Eastern Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.

Along with this I also function as CEO and Co-founder of Speleological Association of India (SAI), which was founded in 2021. The organisation is a passion project through which I and my colleagues aim to conserve and protect the cave ecosystems across the Indian subcontinent. Currently, with the support of Maharashtra Forest Department and WWF-India, SAI is involved in the preparation of the conservation plan for the Robber’s cave in Mahabaleshwar. 

The sea caves at the offshore islands of Maharashtra

I love what I do because..
It is very difficult to exactly choose the most favourite aspect of the work. Caves keep me going and alive. Thinking, writing, and exploring about them is something which will provide me happiness all my life. However, if I restrict myself to talking about my favourite activity during my PhD fieldwork, the long fourteen hours of observing birds and understanding their foraging behaviours was a truly captivating experience. Watching swiftlets flying, fluttering, gliding, and even defecating was just pure bliss! The opportunity to closely observe their behaviors and gain insights into their foraging strategies was an important part of my research.
And of course, how can I forget the later desk work of entering data and analysing it is something I find very interesting and attractive as well, as it allows me to dig deeper into the intricacies of my findings and draw meaningful conclusions from the observations made in the field.

Surveying Indian Swiftlet colony Picture credits: Dr Manchi Shirish S

Challenges I have faced..
People often underestimated that a woman could thrive on islands and work alone in the field. The major challenge was not becoming demotivated, maintaining patience and calm, and staying focused on my work despite people’s disbelief. It could also be frightening at times, even with the sound of waves in the middle of the night while I was on the islands. However, my team (Vikas, Bhavesh, Santosh, Milind, Pooja, Yukta) has always been my strength; each member has been supportive and calm, no matter my mood!

My advice to young researchers is…
Philosophically speaking, perseverance and commitment are the keys to long-lasting success in any field. With nature, patience is also essential. It is this patience that guides you to a better understanding of nature’s dynamics. Equally important is understanding yourself and your interests, as the better you know yourself, the better you comprehend nature. Each one of us who loves nature and wishes to contribute must also acknowledge our strengths and weaknesses.

Academically, reading, studying, and engaging in hands-on research are all crucial elements for success. Additionally, it is advisable for those seeking to enter this field to meet and communicate with people with whom they feel comfortable. Initiatives such as SCCS, YETI, wildlife symposiums, and conferences provide a platform for young students and researchers to interact with eminent personalities in our field and gain valuable insights.

Lastly, do not forget to explore and listen to your calling. It is the calling for a species or habitat that will drive you to persevere and commit to the larger purpose of conservation. This sense of purpose and passion can be a powerful motivator in the face of challenges and setbacks especially for the women who want to pursue wildlife research. By nurturing your connection to nature and your desire to make a difference, you can find the strength to overcome obstacles and achieve the conservation goal.

Dhanusha Kawalkar
[email protected]
PhD Scholar, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History
Research Associate- RTM Nagpur University,
Co-Founder, Speleological Association of India
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JAYWANT kawalkar
JAYWANT kawalkar
11 days ago

Good for your Hardworking

Isha Gokhale
Isha Gokhale
10 days ago

This is so good!! Kudos to you!