As children, many of us imagined what it would be like to fly. “What if I could fly?” we wondered. I know I did. Even now, I am still curious. Why, in this vast world, are they the only ones who can truly take to the skies?
Early Childhood memories
My childhood was in a small village in Palakkad called “Kottayi”. I consider my self lucky to be born in this small beautiful patch of the western ghats of India.
As a millennial kid, my world wasn’t dominated by screens. TV had only a handful of channels, mostly broadcasting news or other dull programs. Mobile phones were unheard of, and distractions like Instagram or YouTube weren’t a part of life. It was just me, my curiosity, and the unfiltered beauty of the world around me.
I still have clear memories of me looking at butterflies, birds, ants, insects, leaves, and fruits around me. Our home was indeed surrounded by a diverse set of trees and plants. And that was indeed a world in itself, offering endless wonders to explore and admire.
A thought : How much can you go back into memories ? What’s your oldest memory ? Is it your mom or dad ?
School Library
I used to get up early and have stroll around the thodi (backyard) and “see” many interesting things, be it the birds or new flowers in the golden hour before I get ready for the school bus.
And if I find a new bird which I don’t know, I clearly remember the excitement I had. I go directly to the library, get books on birds, one was Salim Ali’s The Book of Indian Birds.
But my excitement would quickly turn bittersweet—discovering that the bird was already listed, shattering my dreams of finding a new species!
Looking back, I still remember the excitement of my early “discoveries”—the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, the Golden Oriole, and the Hornbill. I didn’t had a camera at that time, and all these are the pure memories I still carry.
From Library Books to Google Lens
Fast forward to today, We have phone camera’s with zoom which can challenge even a DSLR. Taking a picture, and then asking Google Search, Google Lens, and ChatGPT can do instant identification. You can get the bird’s name, its habitat, population details, and even similar species—all in a matter of seconds.
Projects like ebird.org are indeed a blessing for bird lovers. You can access a wealth of information. You can also contribute by adding your own sightings. This helps build a global bird watching community. It’s amazing how technology has transformed the way we connect with nature!
Bird Watching – At bird-eye level
I recently moved to a new place in Pune. What truly captivated me was the view of the trees and birds outside my large windows. As a child, I always dreamed of being at the level of the birds. However, that was something I could never quite experience.
In today’s digital age, where bird photos are available in plenty, why bother taking more with my basic camera? Apart from the probability of a “new discovery” (pun intended), what I truly enjoy is the chance to observe them up close. Through my lens, I can watch their every move—what they eat, how they interact, and whether they take a mid-afternoon nap.
I still find myself wondering about the simple mysteries of their lives: Where do they sleep at night? What do they communicate with each other? And why do they travel so far, even when they already know where the food is? Do they fight with other species ?
Next Generation
I wonder if today’s children still share the same curiosity about birds that we once did. Do they experience the same sense of wonder and joy that our generation had, or has the fast-paced digital world overshadowed the simple pleasures of observing nature up close?
This makes me appreciate the beauty of those childhood moments even more.
The art of Slowing Down 