Mentorship & The First Shutter
While working alongside eminent horticulturist Late Dr. Chiranjit Parmar digitizing decades of field research slides, an enduring visual discipline was born. Believing that real conservation begins with undeniable visual documentation, Dr. Parmar gifted me his trusty FinePix 2300—sparking my dedication to recording Himalayan flora and montane ecosystems.
Canopy Perspectives with 10x Reach
Acquiring the 10x optical zoom Olympus C-740UZ marked an instinctive pivot from static botanical studies to dynamic avian life. For the first time, distant canopy perches, orchard silhouettes, and secretive valley flyers came sharply into focus, transforming casual bird sightings into deliberate field studies.
Riparian Expeditions & Public Debut
Encouraged by Dr. Parmar, rigorous daily patrols along local hill streams became a masterclass in stalking elusive species. Armed with 20x superzooms and DSLR telephotos, these quiet water-edge vigils produced striking portraits of woodpeckers, treepies, and sunbirds—earning early recognition when Dr. Parmar publicly introduced my work to naturalists[cite: 1].
Personal Wings: Independent Ultra-Zoom Reach
A decisive milestone arrived with the self-funded acquisition of the Nikon P530. Packing an immense 42x optical reach into a rugged, portable build, this kit unlocked complete creative independence. From camouflaged raptors and nocturnal owlets to skittish wetland visitors, it ignited the Birds of Himalayas mission at full speed.
The Pong Dam : Annual Bird Census 2016
Invited by the Kangra Forest Department for the annual Pong Dam Census, we gathered at Nagrota Surian Forest Colony for an intensive survey briefing led by Shri Devinder Singh Dhadwal. Assigned to the Shivdyala transect near Jawali, our 4-member group navigated two hours by rawboat along the reservoir shoreline followed by a demanding 10–12 km trek on foot—logging approximately 4,600 birds across 40 species, including majestic Bar-headed Geese and shoreline waders. The expedition concluded with a dawn jeep reconnaissance through Mini Khad.
A Naturalist’s Guide & The Conservation Pledge
A deeply cherished token of encouragement from fellow conservationists: awarded the authoritative field guide Birds of India by Krys Kazmierczak & Ber van Perlo. More than a reference handbook, it stands as an enduring pledge to deepen my ornithological identification skills and dedicate my photography unconditionally to wildlife conservation across Himachal Pradesh.
A Binocular, A Dream, and the Vision of Studio
A chance connection introduced me to Mr. Raja Ghosh, then Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax in Mandi. A Sunday birding ride to Raghunath ka Padhar along the Beas River turned into warm tea with Mr. and Mrs. Ghosh at their home. While admiring Mrs. Ghosh’s bird photographs, she spoke glowingly of a legendary hotspot called "Studio" near Sattal, where over a hundred species gathered in a single day—a number that felt like pure magic to my young journey. Sensing my yearning, Mr. Ghosh gifted me a razor-sharp pair of binoculars that very evening. Riding home with those lenses over my shoulder, the quiet dream of visiting Studio was permanently ignited.
When Dreams Knock: Arriving at Studio & The Wildlife Award
The dream planted during that tea evening with Mr. and Mrs. Ghosh soon knocked on my door. Strabo Pixel Club announced a 5-day birding workshop at the very same Studio near Sattal. Applying immediately, I was selected to attend. Standing in those oak-laden forests with the gifted binoculars and camera, Studio was everything the Ghoshs had promised and more. To crown the journey, I was honored with the Wildlife Photography Award 2017 by Chief Guest Shri Dharm Singh Meena (IFS, DFO) during the exhibition at iHeart Cafe, supported by Uttarakhand Forest Department, DTDC, and Discover India[cite: 11, 12].
High-Altitude Avian Survey: Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary
Participated in an intensive three-day winter bird diversity survey conducted by the Wildlife Division Kullu (Wildlife Wing, HPFD) across the subalpine forests and high ridges of Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary. Trekking rugged montane terrain alongside eminent naturalist Santosh Thakur and GHNP birder Puvender Singh, our team recorded approximately 129 resident and altitudinal winter migrant species—including Snow Pigeons, Accentors, Mountain Finches, Rosefinches, Pipits, and Himalayan Pheasants. These baseline field observations contributed directly to the published scientific research report “Avifauna of Seraj Valley including those of Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary” (2018).
2nd Himachal Bird Festival & Ringing Workshop
Invited by the Wildlife Division Sarahan (HPFD) to participate in the prestigious 2nd Himachal Bird Festival (14–16 October 2018). With sincere gratitude to Shri Sushil Kapta and Dr. Narasimha, the festival served as an advanced hands-on immersion into avian ringing techniques and scientific biometrics. The symposium featured inspiring presentations on bird photography by Dr. Saurabh, global citizen-science datasets via eBird, and remarkable field documentation by frontline forest guards. The expedition culminated in birding across the high-altitude landscapes of Kinnaur all the way to Chitkul (11,320 Ft), observing rare trans-Himalayan gems including the elusive Ibisbill.
First Prize in State Wildlife Photography: Honored by the Chief Minister
A momentous high-water mark of state-level recognition: awarded the prestigious First Prize in Wildlife Photography in the statewide competition organized by the Forest Department of Himachal Pradesh[cite: 16]. The award and memento were conferred directly by Chief Guest Sh. Jai Ram Thakur ji, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, during the Wildlife Week celebration ceremony[cite: 16]. This distinguished accolade stands as an inspiring affirmation of years spent documenting and conserving the avian wilderness across the state[cite: 16].
A Mentor’s Gift: “Birds of Himachal Pradesh (Non-Passerine, Vol.-I)”
A deeply inspiring gesture of encouragement from a master naturalist: presented with a signed personal copy of “Birds of Himachal Pradesh - Non-Passerine, Vol.-I” by its author, Sh. Devinder Singh Dhadwal, DFO Dharamshala. Having guided my early wetland census expeditions at Pong Dam, Dhadwal Sir’s authoritative work stands as an invaluable reference and a cherished symbol of field camaraderie. Heartfelt thanks to Dhadwal Sir for this beautiful gift and his enduring support.
Avian Heritage on Display: International Shivratri Fair Exhibition
A meaningful homecoming milestone: a curated gallery of my bird photographs documenting the avian diversity of Mandi was publicly exhibited by the District Administration of Mandi during the historic International Shivratri Fair at Seri Manch[cite: 20]. Set at the cultural heart of the town, the exhibition brought the rich birdlife of our local valleys, riverbeds, and hillside forests—from native parakeets, red junglefowl, and kestrels to doves and laughingthrushes—directly to thousands of citizens and visiting pilgrims[cite: 20].
“Himachal Birds – A Visual Treat”: Publication Milestone
An immensely proud moment to receive the monumental coffee table book “Himachal Birds – A Visual Treat” authored by Shri Somesh Goyal Sir, IPS (Director General of Police, Himachal Pradesh)[cite: 18, 19]. Documenting 672 avian species with evocative photographs across 31 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) of Himachal Pradesh, this volume stands as a defining work on Western Himalayan ornithology[cite: 19]. A photograph of mine capturing the vibrant Himalayan Rubythroat (Calliope pectoralis) found a proud feature in this landmark publication[cite: 17]. Heartfelt gratitude to Somesh Sir and the editorial team for the opportunity to contribute[cite: 17, 19].
12 Photographs Featured in “Avifauna in Himachal Pradesh”
A prestigious scientific and photographic milestone: 12 of my avian photographs documenting the bird diversity of Mandi were published in the official scientific monograph “Avifauna in Himachal Pradesh: Monitoring & Estimation” by the Wildlife Wing, Himachal Pradesh Forest Department[cite: 22, 23, 24]. Featuring a rich cross-section of resident and seasonal species—including the Indian Golden Oriole, Black-throated Tit, White-capped Redstart, Indian Paradise Flycatcher, Himalayan Griffon, Verditer Flycatcher, Green Bee-eater, Indian Peafowl, Asian Barred Owlet, Common Hoopoe, White-breasted Waterhen, and Spangled Drongo—this publication marks a proud contribution to the state’s formal biodiversity archive[cite: 22, 24].
Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) 2021
Participating in the global Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) 2021 on Day 3 across the scenic forest ridges and valley trails of Mandi[cite: 27, 28]. Joined in the field by Shri Anil Thakur Ji (Chief Conservator of Forests - CCF) and Shri Mrigender Joshi Ji, our team logged resident and winter migrant species, uploading vital checklist data to eBird to support global avian monitoring, citizen science, and regional conservation mapping[cite: 27, 28].
A Dream Realized: “Birds of Mandi” Released by Hon’ble Chief Minister
A crowning milestone in my birding odyssey: my maiden book “Birds of Mandi”, co-authored with Divisional Forest Officer Mandi, Sh. Surender Kashyap ji, was officially launched by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sh. Jai Ram Thakur ji during the grand opening ceremony of the International Shivratri Fair[cite: 25, 26]. Unveiled in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Mandi Sh. Rugved Thakur ji and district administrative leadership, this volume documents 230 bird species across Mandi District through photographs and habitat profiles[cite: 25, 26]. The culmination of seven years of relentless field tracking and two years of dedicated curation, this dream project stands as a tribute to the early guidance of Late Dr. Chiranjit Parmar, Shri Devinder Dhadwal, Dr. Abhinav, and Shri Santosh Thakur.
World Environment Day 2023: Sanctuary Bird Walk & Conservation Drive
A memorable World Environment Day celebration at Shilli Wildlife Sanctuary, organized by Solan Forest Division in collaboration with Shoolini University under the guidance of CCF Solan and DFO Sh. Kunal Angrish[cite: 29, 30, 31, 32]. Following DFO Sir's inaugural address, I had the privilege of leading a 30-minute educational bird walk through the sanctuary trails for forest officials, faculty, and 50 enthusiastic university students[cite: 29, 30]. The day advanced with a plastic/polythene cleanup campaign, followed by a plantation drive adding 50 Ban Oak and Deodar saplings to the reserve, concluding with insightful remarks by CCF Sir at the IDP Training Centre[cite: 31, 32].
