Birding at Rishi Valley

Although I've spent several months in India over the past two years, I've only gone birding a handful of times. In the US, birding is a past-time of mine that has sometimes behaved more like an obsession, which is common among birders. In the field and around my home in Madanapalle, I have been able to identify a number of birds, and I've kept track of a list in India. Nonetheless, I've not taken advantage of many great opportunities for birding here in Andhra Pradesh as well as in Gujarat, where I also spend time. This trend may have changed today, as I went for a wonderful session at Rishi Valley Bird Preserve. The session was led by noted birder and ornithologist, Santharam V., as well as other faculty and students from Rishi Valley school. The School's 350+ acre campus hosts the bird preserve, on which 208 species have been observed! 

On a side note, Rishi Valley School is a fantastic primary and secondary education institution in the hills of Rayalseema near to Madanapalle. Started by Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurthi, the school is famous for its holistic approach to education, and its dedication to extension work in ecological conservation and sustainable approaches to rural development. It seems the school's curriculum and extension work are intertwined to some extent, as the faculty and students I met were highly attuned to the issues of ecology and rural development. I was very impressed by the young students I birded with today, all of whom are more competent birders than me. It is also inspiring that young people are learning natural history and, hopefully, developing a conservation ethic. If future generations have healthy ecosystems to enjoy, I'm sure Rishi Valley School will be in part responsible. http://www.rishivalley.org/

We enjoyed approximately 23+ species today, apparently a slow day for the regular birding group there. Among the highlights were a Painted Spurfowl (Galloperdix lunulata) and a few first of season Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius). It was a great time, and I look very forward to birding with the group again. In the end, I had 15 life species, and one continent species, Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto). A near-complete trip list is below.

Painted Spurfowl Galloperdix lunulata            

Shikra Accipiter badius (probable)

Yellow-legged Buttonquail Turnix tanki*

Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 

Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis 

Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri

Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis

Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus

Bay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus (probable)

Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocerus

Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica

Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii

Jungle Prinia Prinia sylvatica

Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius

Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus

Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer

Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides

Spotted Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps*

Tawny-bellied Babbler Dumetia hyperythra

Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense*

Common Babbler Turdoides caudata

Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius

Tickells Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos

Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus

Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus

* Indicates heard only.