Bird flu won’t scare away avid birders
Hindustan TimesBirdwatching has gained popularity over the last year as Nature took centrestage amid the lockdown. Even the recent bird flu outbreak hasn’t significantly dented the enthusiasm of bird watchers, who are also taking precautionary measures. Abhishek Gulshan, nature educator and founder Ninox - Owl about Nature, which conducts nature walks and workshops says, “We’re still conducting walks. The motive is to not increase business but as an educator, it is my responsibility to provide adequate information.” He shares that one photo walk was cancelled last week amid the outbreak, but he “wanted to collect information, educate the participants, give a clear picture as we can’t jeopardise lives”. We don’t go too close anyway.” Wildlife researcher Roshan Puranik cautions, “It’s a great time to spot migratory birds, but if you see a rare one, don’t run carelessly.