While many wildlife enthusiasts and travellers prefer to seek Kabini for its teeming megafauna, much can be said about the wildlife that we miss right in front of us. Avifauna is one such base; Kabini is home to nearly 250 species of resident, endemic and migratory avian friends. This diverse landscape at the foot of the Western Ghats makes for the perfect habitat!
Here’s a guide to get you started with birdwatching around our resort in Kabini, seeing as how our location in the proximity of Kabini on the backwaters and the rural side make for the perfect introduction to the art!
Kabini bird-life
As we’d mentioned earlier, Kabini is home to nearly 250 species of birds. There are plenty of common birds that are found elsewhere but some are iconic to Kabini. A good example would be the Crested Serpent Eagle; while relatively common throughout the country, it has a special presence in Kabini. So too does the Brown Fish Owl!
Peafowl abound throughout the main forests and also the surrounding villages and come winter, the Kabini backwaters play host to River Terns and Bar Headed Geese. Apart from this, our resort in Kabini is home to many bamboo thickets that provide a home to Asian Paradise Flycatchers, Magpie Robins. Our many flowering plants throughout the resort play host to Sunbirds that love sipping nectar, and you’ll hear the sad-like trill of an Oriental White Eye as a group darts to and from the shrubs.
The backwaters are also a home ground for herons, egrets and Wagtails; the latter can always be found waiting on the dock at our resort in Kabini waiting to grab insects that emerge from the waters!
Areas of birding
During the summers, the backwaters recede, giving you access to excellent sightings right from our resort in Kabini. The pathways of our resort are also very good for spotting the more common birds, and as you walk out of our resort in Kabini you can find birds like Drongos and Indian Rollers using the electric lines as a landing platform while on the ground Grey Francolins run around and Lapwings scream their trademark “did you do it?” call to protect their nests.
The big banyan trees and peepal trees around our resort in Kabini are your best bet to find Hornbills and Orioles, for these birds love ficus trees. Finally, the various fields around our retreat are where you can find Munias hopping between the grasses or peacocks shyly stepping out into the open!
What To Look Out For When Birding
So how do you identify birds? There are several ways. The size, colors, behavior and call are all ways of identifying birds. As your experience grows, you’ll find out ways of separating species depending on their primary characteristics. For instance, peacocks can be distinguished easily by their striking blue color, plaintive but loud calls and their social groups. Bulbuls on the other hand are a completely different species of bird that you can find darting around between shrubs to feast on the berries.
What equipment to pack
Birdwatching is an art that requires nothing more than 2 of your senses to begin with, those of seeing and hearing! It’s always helpful to have a small notebook to note down observations that you may have as there are so many birds and noting down anything interesting you observe may help towards identifying the species.
A pair of binoculars is a good investment; pick something that’s lightweight, has good quality optics but doesn’t cost a bomb. We recommend a pair of 10×50 binoculars that can also be useful in star gazing as the night falls.
Bird photography is a great way to boost your birding skills and also take home a memento of your days at our resort in Kabini. Do note however that it is equipment intensive and therefore an expensive hobby if you want high quality images! For sharing on social media, however, you can get by with a normal point-and-shoot camera that has a good enough focal length lens.
What clothes to wear
In order to be minimally intrusive, it is always recommended to try and blend into the environment. Therefore when birding or indeed venturing into the wild for any activity, always wear dull colored clothes (avoid camo in sensitive zones!) and also clothes that are light and comfortable. Colors like olive green, brown and dark blue are the best; strictly avoid bright colors like reds, yellows and white.
A good pair of boots is also recommended since you’ll be walking around a lot, and a hat for when the day gets hot.
Birdwatching etiquette
It is important to remember that birdwatching requires some etiquette as with any interaction with the wild. We are entering the homes of the birds and as such must respect their privacy and space. Talking loudly, throwing stones to flush birds out, walking in large groups are strict nos when birdwatching. Using playback calls to attract birds is also a big no as it stresses them out and leaves them vulnerable to predators.
Chorus walk
When staying at our resort in Kabini, do remember to take part in the chorus walk that takes place early in the morning. Swamy, our resident naturalist at Kabini, will take you through the resort and also on to the backwaters and the fields ensuring you have ample opportunities to spot some feathered friends and also take in the sunrise. You’ll depart after a hot cup of coffee and stay outside birding for a good 2 hours or so until breakfast calls and you’ve returned with a notebook full of memories!
