Nature enthusiast trio capturing wildlife in camera, aims to make Kashmir bird watcher's hub

Srinagar, Jan 19: On a chilly January afternoon, three passionate bird watchers and ornithologists - Irfan Jeelani, Ansar Ahmed and Sheikh Riyaz- are out in the wild capturing different species in their cameras.

In between clicking photographs of exotic bird species, the trio highlights how the Himalayan mountain ecosystem is globally renowned for biological diversity and contributes 13 per cent of the world's avian species.

The trio is passionate about travelling in order to explore more about birds and wildlife. Irfan Jeelani is a young ornithologist (one who does study of birds) and a naturalist hailing from Kangan town of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. A teacher by profession, Irfan has been interested in nature and nature studies since his childhood. He is also affiliated with Jammu and Kashmir Mountaineering and Adventure Club (JKMAC) and has extensively trekked in Sindh valley.

This nature lover has a masters degree in disaster management and sustainable development. Passionate about birds, Irfan started a birding club in Kashmir by the name of ‘Birds of Kashmir’ in 2020 and has a membership of around 9,000 which includes members from around the world. The club documents birds from western Himalayas (Kashmir Himalayas).

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Irfan Jeelani said that he and his team have been able to document some of the rare birds from Kashmir, some of them being the first records from Kashmir valley.

“Little bunting, Eurasian curlew, White Tailed Eagle, Eversmann’s Redstart, Blyth’s Rosefinch, Rustic Bunting etc are some of the rare birds being slighted by the club" he said.

Irfan aims at creating birding clubs at school and college level, with an aim to motivate more people into this hobby. He believes that Kashmir has an unique habitat diversity and needs exploration so that its biodiversity can be properly documented. “Being part of JKMAC and with some great people like Mehmood Ahmad Shah ( senior KAS officer ), I gradually fell in love with nature and wildlife photography.  I have been able to photograph more than 380 species of birds from J&K. I learnt the art myself and from Sarwandeep Singh, one of the top bird photographer of India,” Irfan added. He said even though work has taken him outside J&K but his main focus is to document all bird species of Kashmir Himalayas.

"One thing I have learnt from birdwatching is patience and perseverance. When you are trying hard to observe a bird or photograph it, it is hard to get it in one shot. You have to analyse and think where the bird might go next,” said Irfan.

This comes with patience and experience, said the adventure seeker. “It takes a lot of time to develop and to get it right over a period of time. You need a lot of energy, time, determination and of course, the skill. I have faced these hardships many times and even today, when I pick my camera looking for these birds, I am not sure how tough or easy a task it could be" Jeelani said. Irfan had facilitated an expedition trip of top birders of the Indian subcontinent to Kashmir earlier this year.

Ansar Ahmad, a passionate wildlife and bird photographer, draws inspiration from the majestic Zabarwan mountains and the serene banks of Dal Lake (Danpora Brane Nishat Srinagar). Working as a Paravet in the Sheep Husbandry Department of Kashmir, he spends summers in the stunning alpine meadows of Kashmir. It was during these high-altitude journeys that developed a deep understanding of the region’s birds and wildlife, which fueled a passion for photography.

What began as a hobby quickly turned into a lifelong passion to capture and preserve the beauty of Kashmir's biodiversity. Through Instagram and Facebook, showcases the mesmerizing wildlife and breathtaking landscapes of the region, bringing the hidden treasures of Kashmir to the world. Ansar Ahmed  made a remarkable discovery in Srinagar, Kashmir last year . For the first time, Hasora chromus, commonly known as the Common Banded Awl, was observed and photographed in the region.

This sighting marks a significant expansion in the known distribution of the species. Another bird watcher and enthusiast Sheikh Riyaz said that he started bird watching in 2016. “Back then I was not using a camera but later in 2018 I began doing photography. I captured many birds and mammals as well. In 2018, I captured a rare wild goat from Zabarwan mountain namely Himalayan serow . As I had captured 276 species which includes some rare birds like white throated Bush Tit , Orange  Bullfinch, Green Shrike Babbler, Common Gull and many more. Among the mammals, I had capture Himalayan black bear, Kashmir Deer ( hangul ) ,Markhoor . As part of bird watching, my main goal is to ensure conservation of flora and fauna in Kashmir,” Sheikh said.