I first heard about the Delhi Bird Atlas from its lead organizer, Pankaj Gupta. The idea instantly resonated with me — a citizen science initiative with scientific rigour, geared toward something greater than checklists: becoming a living reference for future city planners. I knew I wanted to be part of it.

 

As the cluster lead for Cluster 3, covering parts of South West Delhi — from the leafy edges of Vasant Kunj to the buzzing lanes of Dwarka and West Delhi — I’ve had some memorable experiences. But none quite like Uttam Nagar.

 

Now, every subcell survey requires at least two volunteers. On this particular survey in Uttam Nagar — a subcell known for its... let’s say, pigeon-forward bird population — my co-volunteer and I developed a ritual. Before each walk, we’d toss a coin. The loser had to count only pigeons. The winner? They got the luxury of counting everything except pigeons.

 

Why? Because during my first visit here, I discovered that for every myna or sparrow, there were about 50 pigeons lounging on balconies, clustered atop AC units, or just generally supervising the neighbourhood like they owned the place. One morning, we clocked 356 pigeons in 15 minutes. I spent most of that time reminding the unlucky pigeon-counter how relaxed I felt, knowing I only had to log the occasional non-pigeon bird while they squinted at concrete facades in search of bird #198.

 

Humour aside, the Uttam Nagar subcell is a microcosm of a deeper issue. Pigeons are highly adaptable, yes — but they're being actively encouraged by thousands of Delhiites who feed them at traffic intersections every day. Their dominance isn’t accidental, and the consequence is a shrinking diversity of other urban bird species. That’s why the DBA matters. It gives us a city-wide view of these dynamics — data that can inform both government action and social change.

 

And if I had to sum up my experience with a personal motto?

 

“The hardest part of birding in Delhi isn’t the pigeons. It’s finding parking.”