Amongst several thick books on accounting and finance one can spot a book or two about birds and bonsai gardening in Vikram Penmetsa’s office. A chartered accountant by profession, Penmetsa’s heart lies in birdwatching.
Even amidst lush green leaves or thick bushes, Penmetsa can easily sense the presence of a bird. This is a gift that one acquired after many years of experience. “I can spot birds at a considerable distance, even when no one else can see them. There have been many instances when I have pulled over while driving to find a bird. Even at the speed of a moving car, I can easily spot a bird,” he laughs.
He explains that birdwatching is a hobby that demands a lot of patience. “All it takes is a pair of binoculars, a field guide and lots of patience to enjoy birdwatching,” he says.
Apart from birds, it also teaches enthusiasts about nature, habitat, landscape and biodiveristy. “Initially, it requires patience as amateurs know little about birds and it takes a lot of time for them to recognise each one. So going along with people who are experienced would help them learn and make it a better experience,” he says.
The spotting and recognition of a bird usually depends on the four major factors — size of the bird, size of the beak, shape of the beak and colour of the feathers. “The size of the bird is compared to that of the crow because everyone has seen a crow and hence it makes comparison easy,” he says.
However, Penmetsa did not acquire this expertise in a matter of days. It has taken him 18 years and innumerable trips to the fields, hills and water bodies to see the birds and study their habitat.
“I started birdwatching from 2000 when I became a member of Birdwatchers Society of Andhra Pradesh (BSAP) in Hyderabad. When I moved back to Visakhapatnam, I wanted to continue with the hobby. Through social media, I tried to connect with more people and eventually formed Vizag Birdwatchers Society,” he says.
Nestled among the Eastern Ghats, Visakhapatnam is blessed with a rich biodiversity making it a hub for birds and a delight for the birdwatchers. Today, Vizag Birdwatchers Society has roughly 500 members who gather and set out for birdwatching at least once a month. “The best time for birdwatching is during the winters. Most of the Himalayan birds migrate down South to avoid the harsh winters. So October to January would be an ideal time for birdwatching,” he says.
Some of the birds that frequently visit the region are Great crested grebe, Tufted duck, Pochards and Mallards. “Three years ago, we had the opportunity to see a thick-billed Green pigeon which has not been spotted in this region before,” he says.
Birdwatcher’s paradise
For those who are interested in picking up this hobby, Penmetsa has a list of places to begin. Meghadri Gedda Reservoir, Araku Valley, Thatipudi Reservoir, Kambalkonda Wildlife Sanctuary and Thotlakonda are the must-go places for birdwatchers in the city. Apart from birdwatching, the chartered accountant also conducts bird census in Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram areas.
“The data collected from this census is first given to BSAP which is then passed to Bombay Natural History Society before it is sent to Singapore and Netherlands where the world database for birds is made,” he says.
(To join Vizag Birdwatchers Society, 7680902345)