Page 40 - Creature Companion, September 2020

BIRDWATCHING

Pink-headed duck
shutter-speed camera, scientifi c bird
illustrations played an important role
in documenting bird life and today
they are prized possessions and
command a high monetary value.
Bird art is still alive and we continue
to see some brilliant artists who
capture the beauty of birds in their
habitat.

The art of photography has become
more affordable and accessible than
ever before and bird photography has
gained popularity in recent years.
Bird photography is done in different
ways depending on who is behind
the camera. Advanced cameras
today can help document some bird
behaviour never seen before, such
as kingfisher catching a fi sh under

water. Photography can also be looked
at in a more creative way; fine art bird

photography can help capture some
stunning visuals of birds in their
natural habitat that can effectively
Credits: Priyal Shah birds. All these different forms of art
draw interest of the viewer towards

show how fascinating birds are and
how they capture our fancy. Today,
as bird habitats are under threat,
we should know that any decline or
disappearance of bird populations is
involved in birding, then you can more. The beauty of birds cannot an indication of what our fate could
check out Facebook groups, one of the escape an artist’s eye and that’s why be. Therefore, in our own little ways,
most popular in India is called ‘Indian there have been subjects of artwork documenting birds, understanding
Birds’. Some cities also have active since around 14,000 BC, that’s when them or sharing awareness about
sub-groups, members often organize the oldest known bird art dates them can sensitize people around us
bird walks over weekends, and you back. The purpose of bird art has to act in ways that protect birds and
can keep track of announcements on evolved over the years; few decades their habitats.
these Facebook groups to join them – ago, bird illustrations played an
Mumbai: Mumbai Birdwatchers Club, important role in documenting bird
Delhi: Indian Birds, Bhubaneswar: life in the absence of cameras that
The Bhubaneswar Bird Walks, and could capture birds in their natural
Hyderabad: Hyderabad Birding Pals. environment. Not all paintings
were scientific and accurate but * The author is a business graduate working at an

BIRDS & ART contributed to our understanding environment research organization to address
Birds have been an inspiration for of bird life in a certain era and the climate change through business action. She got

all kinds of art forms like sketching, significance they held in the lives introduced to birding when she was in school and
continues to chase birds in her free time with a
painting, music, photography, and of humans. In the absence of high pair of binoculars, a camera, and a fi eld guide.
40 Creature Companion | SEPTEMBER 2020 • VOL. XIII • ISSUE 7 • NOIDA