Ahmer Ali Rizvi
When talking about pastimes, everyone in this world has a sense of interest and curiosity about something or some activity. Some like to watch movies or listen to music, some participate in any sport and some love to go for long-drive. Tough very few, but some are those who get contentment from Birdwatching.
The term “Birdwatching” does not cover only looking at birds but also deals with studying and photographing birds in their natural habitat. Further, it involves efforts to provide protection to birds and their homelands. In western world, Birdwatching is a favorite pastime of thousands of people. Men, women, young and old all spend time and give heed to this exquisite outdoor activity.
Typical birdwatchers also play an imperative role in conservational activities. They work on conservational and research projects in association with wildlife department and research institutions. In other words, birdwatching is carried out, not only for recreation or self-study but also for gathering valuable information about birds. It helps in monitoring the occurrence of different species of birds in a particular region, assessing their population and observing migration trends etc.
Birdwatching is very much bond with weather and seasonal changes. During winter when northern parts of the world are covered with snow, the whole population of birds migrates towards the warmer regions of the world. This natural phenomenon provides birdwatchers with great opportunities to enjoy spectacular birding.
Birdwatchers never stay at home. They are found tracking for birds all the year round. But at the onset of winter they peculiarly setout birding expeditions and spend most of their time in tracking, observing and snap-shooting birds. Holding binocular and other optical instrument they are come upon walking through the woods, sitting in hideouts along the seashores or lying behind bushes at the bank of any wetland. They always look forward for opportunities to photograph birds in interesting postures and movements. They sometimes get a chance to snap any rare or uncommon bird species. Such an achievement is also helpful in research work and to maintain a checklist of birds of a particular area or region.
Pakistan is a country with rich wildlife that offers great opportunities for wonderful birdwatching. Moderate weather conditions throughout the year and diverse habitat from coastal areas to northern mountains make different species of birds available in all seasons.
Wetlands and coastal ranges of Pakistan attract large number of winter migratory birds. Numerous summer visitors and passing migrants also lodge on these welcoming waters during spring and summer.
To enjoy the real passion of Birdwatching, knowledge of classification of bird species is essential. Identification of different species of birds on ground, water and in air is also very important. Scientifically birds are divided into 30 orders and more than 190 families on the basis of their structure and characteristics. Generally they can be grouped into three major tribes, Water birds, Terrestrial birds and Garden birds. This grouping on the basis of habitat offers different flavors of birdwatching. The most fascinating and famous offshoot worldwide is to watch and study water-birds.
Water-birds that have great attraction and prominence among birdwatcher include various members of Swans and Geese family. These include Bewick’s Swans, Whooper and Mute Swans, Snow Geese, Brent, Bean and Cananda Geese. Ducks also have a special place in birders heart. Mallards, Pintails, Teals, Shovellers, Gadwalls, Garganeys, Shelducks, Pochards and Wigeons are some common members of duck family. A number of wadding-birds are also very famous among birdwatchers. These birds include Curlews, Whimbrel, Godwits, Shanks, Stilts, Sandpiper, Dunlins, Gulls and Terns etc. Other common waterbirds include Flamingoes, Pelicans, Cormorants, Storks, Ibises, Herons and Egrets etc.
Deep absorbing sights and sounds of wildbirds make viewers obviously love these wonderful creatures. Rhythmic wing-beat of ducks, swift and steady fly-pass of flamingoes, perfectly V-shaped flocking of cormorants, smooth gliding of storks in the air, melodious chirp of plover, hovering steadily Kingfisher in search of fish over water and spatter landing of large pelicans on blue water. All these eyeshots give a fascinating feel that is hard to explain in words. It is a real feast for the eye and the heart. It can only be conceived and regarded when experienced in real wilderness.
When talking about pastimes, everyone in this world has a sense of interest and curiosity about something or some activity. Some like to watch movies or listen to music, some participate in any sport and some love to go for long-drive. Tough very few, but some are those who get contentment from Birdwatching.
The term “Birdwatching” does not cover only looking at birds but also deals with studying and photographing birds in their natural habitat. Further, it involves efforts to provide protection to birds and their homelands. In western world, Birdwatching is a favorite pastime of thousands of people. Men, women, young and old all spend time and give heed to this exquisite outdoor activity.
Typical birdwatchers also play an imperative role in conservational activities. They work on conservational and research projects in association with wildlife department and research institutions. In other words, birdwatching is carried out, not only for recreation or self-study but also for gathering valuable information about birds. It helps in monitoring the occurrence of different species of birds in a particular region, assessing their population and observing migration trends etc.Birdwatching is very much bond with weather and seasonal changes. During winter when northern parts of the world are covered with snow, the whole population of birds migrates towards the warmer regions of the world. This natural phenomenon provides birdwatchers with great opportunities to enjoy spectacular birding.
Birdwatchers never stay at home. They are found tracking for birds all the year round. But at the onset of winter they peculiarly setout birding expeditions and spend most of their time in tracking, observing and snap-shooting birds. Holding binocular and other optical instrument they are come upon walking through the woods, sitting in hideouts along the seashores or lying behind bushes at the bank of any wetland. They always look forward for opportunities to photograph birds in interesting postures and movements. They sometimes get a chance to snap any rare or uncommon bird species. Such an achievement is also helpful in research work and to maintain a checklist of birds of a particular area or region.Pakistan is a country with rich wildlife that offers great opportunities for wonderful birdwatching. Moderate weather conditions throughout the year and diverse habitat from coastal areas to northern mountains make different species of birds available in all seasons.
Wetlands and coastal ranges of Pakistan attract large number of winter migratory birds. Numerous summer visitors and passing migrants also lodge on these welcoming waters during spring and summer.To enjoy the real passion of Birdwatching, knowledge of classification of bird species is essential. Identification of different species of birds on ground, water and in air is also very important. Scientifically birds are divided into 30 orders and more than 190 families on the basis of their structure and characteristics. Generally they can be grouped into three major tribes, Water birds, Terrestrial birds and Garden birds. This grouping on the basis of habitat offers different flavors of birdwatching. The most fascinating and famous offshoot worldwide is to watch and study water-birds.
Water-birds that have great attraction and prominence among birdwatcher include various members of Swans and Geese family. These include Bewick’s Swans, Whooper and Mute Swans, Snow Geese, Brent, Bean and Cananda Geese. Ducks also have a special place in birders heart. Mallards, Pintails, Teals, Shovellers, Gadwalls, Garganeys, Shelducks, Pochards and Wigeons are some common members of duck family. A number of wadding-birds are also very famous among birdwatchers. These birds include Curlews, Whimbrel, Godwits, Shanks, Stilts, Sandpiper, Dunlins, Gulls and Terns etc. Other common waterbirds include Flamingoes, Pelicans, Cormorants, Storks, Ibises, Herons and Egrets etc.
Deep absorbing sights and sounds of wildbirds make viewers obviously love these wonderful creatures. Rhythmic wing-beat of ducks, swift and steady fly-pass of flamingoes, perfectly V-shaped flocking of cormorants, smooth gliding of storks in the air, melodious chirp of plover, hovering steadily Kingfisher in search of fish over water and spatter landing of large pelicans on blue water. All these eyeshots give a fascinating feel that is hard to explain in words. It is a real feast for the eye and the heart. It can only be conceived and regarded when experienced in real wilderness.
