Delhi Bird Photographers (DBP) was set up as a birdwatching and bird photography community in 2014 by Mathew Joseph, a prominent development sector professional and NGO leader who took up bird photography as a serious hobby. The primary purpose of DBP is to promote birdwatching and bird photography as a hobby, to inculcate the love of nature and birds among children, youth, working populations and retirees to bring mental peace, health and social benefits, and ultimately leading to bird and habitat conservation. DBP has become a 10,000 strong community with people from all walks of life.
DBP has been adopted by Empower Trust for professionally engaging members in volunteering for conservation of birds and wetland habitats.
The objectives of DBP are:
- To promote the knowledge of birds, description, their ecology and behaviour, their distribution and habitat, migration and their conservation status to instil a love of birds and their conservation among participants
- To promote birding as a rewarding hobby for busy city-dwellers to unwind and recharge their minds and learn the values of patience
- To promote the mental and physical health benefits of walking amidst nature, and spending time in invigorating bird habitats like forests, wetlands and other biomes
- To learn photography and enhance one’s skills and aesthetics; while instilling a sense of accomplishment and quiet satisfaction
- Create a body of citizen scientists who aid avian data collection providing scientists with massive, real-time info to track populations, climate change impacts, and migration, transforming birdwatching into a powerful research tool for conservation
Operating through social media groups, DBP conducts regular bird walks in and around Delhi NCR benefiting thousands of participants. The group has held 350+ bird walks in locations including Sultanpur National Park, Surajpur Wetland, Dhanauri Wetland, Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Sanjay Van, Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, Yamuna Biodiversity Park, Aravali Biodiversity Park, Najafgarh Jheel, Chilla Wetland, Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary, Basai Wetland, Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Chambal River Wildlife Sanctuary, Tal Chappar Wildlife Sanctuary and many other birding locations in Delhi and surrounding states. DBP also collaborates with birding groups in other cities across India for members to visit and explore endemic birds.
Members of DBP have participated in citizen science projects and programs in partnership with the forest departments of various states. Even in bird walks, members take up conservation work like cleaning habitats, removal of chinese manjha (kite thread), reporting/rescuing injured birds or inform the authorities on the status of habitats or need for their action. The members also participate in the various activities and events organized by the forest departments and commemorate important dates and occasions.
TRAINING WORKSHOPS
DBP conducts various workshops, events, contests and training sessions for birders and bird photographers on birds, photography, post-processing of images, etc. free of cost to participants through experts and mentors.