A Birder Portrait
By Gabbi Reyes-Banaria
The “brrr” months are here—or should we say “brrr-d” months? While we do love our year-round Philippine birds, welcoming back our migratory visitors brings a different kind of excitement to the birding community. Along with our migrants, the club also anticipates the arrival of guests attending the 13th Asian Bird Fair in November.
As we joyfully say “hello” to new friends, we can’t help but bid a fond “see you later” to old ones. If you follow the WBCP Facebook group, you might have come across brilliant bird photos taken by Ravi Iyengar.
Picturing Ravi
Ravi has recently moved back to Mumbai after years of living in the Philippines for his job. When he is not busy training the top leaders and managers of tomorrow as an executive coach, he enjoys travelling and listening to music.
G: When did you start birdwatching and how? Tell us your story.
R: I have been interested in birds for a long time. A former classmate and I were planning some birding trips together, which somehow never materialized. One day I met him at a party, and he convinced me to join a one-year program called Basic Course in Ornithology run by The Bombay Natural History Society. I started the program in July 2018 and that is how my Birding story started and I have never looked back since.
G: What was your experience like as a newbie back then? How did you feel?
R: As a newbie, I would look at the pictures of birds that were being posted by others in the group and be in awe. I would wonder whether I would ever have a chance to see such birds. And also be amazed by the depth of knowledge of the experienced birders, both in their understanding of the historical/scientific facts, as well as their field skills.
G: When did you join the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines and how?
R: It’s a funny story, a friend who heads a Wildlife Conservation Trust in Mumbai told me before I arrived in Manila, that there were very few birds in the Philippines, due to hunting and habitat loss. I came with very little expectations of continuing my birding here, but soon found that it just was not true. I then did some research and discovered the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines. A few emails later, Mike Lu took me out birding at the American Memorial and soon I was a regular at the Club. To this date I do not know if my friend was just teasing me or serious about the bird life in the Philippines, but he certainly led me to discover WBCP early in my life here.
It’s amazing how preconceived expectations and notions of the bird scene in the Philippines can change with a single trip. We’ve received similar reactions from those who bird for the first time during WBCP guided trips. It goes to show how even the smallest leads, like a friend’s comment or even a Facebook post, opens doors to unexpected passions and communities. We’re glad to have made friends with people like Ravi who have the curiosity and drive to explore and learn beyond what others tell us.
G: What was your spark bird?
R: My spark bird is the Common Kingfisher. Whenever my wife and I would go holidaying, it would somehow show up, and my wife would comment about it appearing when I was around. The Common Kingfisher also adorns the logo of my favorite beer 😉 and I would sight and sample both in the course of the holiday!
With the holidays up ahead, we sure hope you find the time for birds and your favorite beer.
Beyond The Bins
“I would like to see, experience and learn about as many birds as possible. I have considered putting a number to my lifer count, but decided that I would just take it as it comes. Today a thousand, tomorrow the world.”
-Ravi Iyengar
G: When you started birding, what kind of changes did it make to your life? Your outlook?
R: Starting Birdwatching was like learning a new language or skillset. It also gave me access to entirely new set of friends and communities. And of course took me to places and environments which I may have never experienced otherwise. It also taught me a lot about patience and planning.
G: What was your most challenging experience as a birder?
R: My quest to see the Whiskered Pitta has certainly been one that has been very challenging. It has taken me three tough mountain climbs (after the second of which I swore I would not climb another to look for the Pitta), a long trek in the hot sun with a dented knee, after a fall, and a faulty 4×4 vehicle, and a lot of frustration and pain. Eventually, the last climb was fairly painless and the Pitta was just sauntering around nearby, making me wonder what I was so fussed about.
Just as we’ve proven that there are more to Philippine birds than meets the eye, our passion is more than about being the first or having seen the most. Ravi shares an inspiring story of how our collective efforts can impact the lives of our plumaged pals and the communities surrounding them.
G: What was your most rewarding experience?
R: I was part of a group that petitioned and put together some videos to save a wetland near Mumbai. Thanks to the good work of the group, the wetland has stayed open and is home to hundreds of migratory and resident birds.
G: What do you consider your life’s birdwatching goal?
R: I would like to see, experience and learn about as many birds as possible. I have considered putting a number to my lifer count, but decided that I would just take it as it comes. Today a thousand, tomorrow the world.
Ravi believes that birding is great because “it brings you close to nature and you can enjoy it anywhere in the world”.
G: Do you have a favorite place to bird? Where?
R: My favorite place to bird in Metro Manila is Palo Alto. I have several lifers there and birding has always been fruitful. In the last couple of months I was able to lifer the Green-faced Parrotfinch and the Philippine Pitta.
Birder On The Move
We’ve enjoyed the past years birding and bonding with Ravi. This time, we celebrate his new adventures from afar, for now.
G: Where are you moving to and what birds do you look forward to seeing there?
R: I have already moved to Mumbai and I am looking forward to seeing the wide variety of birds across India (and of course other parts of the world). I had only completed one year of birding in India before I came to the Philippines and that combined with the pandemic meant that I have a lot of unfinished birding business there.
G: What are you most excited about in your new adventure?
R: My new vocation as an Executive Coach will give my wife and I a lot of time to travel the world. My camera and bins always travel with me, and I am excited about seeing many different birds and other wildlife across the world.
G: What will you miss the most about birding in the Philippines?
R: At the start of the pandemic, an Indian birder friend started a series of Birding Webinars and asked me to do one about the Philippines. I asked Mike Lu to co-host it with me and we had a fair number of people across India and Philippines that attended. I didn’t know as much about Philippine birding then as I know now, but there so much yet unexplored. I will certainly miss my birding friends here as well as the chance to see so many more birds here.
G: You have some of the loveliest bird photos. Do you have any plans with the photos you take?
R: I post my pictures regularly on FB and Insta. I have sent some of my pictures to be included in books and monographs. An artist has used a couple of my pictures in their paintings. I have of course allowed my friends and associations to use my pictures for education and charity. And I did use some of my pictures to create a desk calendar for 2024. People have offered me other suggestions, but I have nothing more on the anvil for the moment.
G: What advice or learnings can you share with foreign birders interested in living in the Philippines?
R: Find some passionate local birding friends who will go out birding with you – come rain or shine!
We couldn’t agree more! One can continue to grow when they surround themselves with people passionate about the same things they are. We are very fortunate to have found our tribe.
The stories and thoughts Ravi has shared radiate such positivity and optimism. It’s no wonder that he is a coach. Now, if there were only a way he could take us along when he and his wife travel the world.Thank you Ravi for inspiring us with your responses! Know that no matter how far you go, you will always have birder and bird friends here in the Philippines.
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Ravi is also a contributing writer in this edition of eBon. Read his article on his road to 360 lifers here: