Pramod Dhal captured some rare species of migratory finches including woolly-necked stork, caspian terns and green-billed malkoha. He chatted with Karan Bhardwaj

Not many have had the privilege to see rare birds like the wooly-necked stork or caspian terns. But wildlife photographer Pramod Dhal has not only seen them but also documented almost all the endangered species of migratory birds in Odisha. The best of his photos were exhibited at the Constitution Club, organised by parliamentarian Baijayant Jay Panda.

“In India and the subcontinent, there are around 1,300 species of birds. In Odisha alone, over 500 species have been recorded,” he said. Dhal has covered over 300 species of birds. In the exhibition, he is showing 125 types of bird species both resident and migratory of Odisha in their natural habitat. While photography is his passion, he is also an adventurist. He often forgets the “world” when he is moving around with his camera.

 Sharing anecdotes, he told us about a rare species called red avadavat, which was discovered by Britishers in Ahmedabad. It is usually seen in small flocks and fly with rapid wingbeats and descend into grass clumps where they are hard to observe. “This finch is always around us and but even well-known photographers have not got a close view. I was moving with my daughter in a muddy area. I was so consumed in targeting this bird that I completely overlooked a black snake right next to my feet. My daughter, who assists me in most of these shoots, screamed and literally pushed me to escape,” he said.

Through his exhibitions, Dhal’s purpose is to create awareness about wildlife conservation. “Many species have gone out of sight while several migratory birds have stopped coming to our country, leave alone the extinct species. So I want to lure people to the beauty of wildlife and tell them that without these birds and animals, human existence will not be possible. I ensure school kids visit these exhibitions and I also go to schools for lectures on wildlife conservation,” he said.

Talking about his passion for photography, Dhal, who belongs to Argal village of Kendrapara, Odisha, said he grew up watching birds. “I was always surrounded by flora and fauna. It was always within me. I use a lot of new gadgets including variety of cameras,” he said.

Capturing precise movements of birds is a time-consuming and laborious activity. While documenting birds in the Chilika lake was not tough, the similar activity in other parts were quite tough. “The birds at the Chilika lake are familiar with human presence. So they do not escape photographers. I could take close shots of these birds. But in jungle, I spent whole days without any result,” he said.

In the photographs, there are six types of kingfishers, woolly-necked stork, caspian terns, green-billed malkoha, Asian paradise flycatcher among others. “I was on an official tour when we parked our cars roadside. I spotted woolly-necked stork there  and couldn’t believe the sight. Ever since I captured them, I never saw them again,” he shared. Dhal claimed to be the only Indian photographer to have captured over 200 migratory species that hit Odisha every year, mostly during Winters.

The photographer said, due to conservation activities, the wildlife in the state is flourishing. “There was a time when hunting of big birds was a hobby. But now there are many NGOs which worked aggressively in this area and there efforts are finally working now,” he said. In Odisha, the Chilika lake, Bhitarkanika National Park, Simlipal National Park, lalitgiri and Gahirmatha Beach and Marine Sanctuary have exquisite species of wildlife. The state has a 700-km long coastline with mangrove forests, that are home to a number of rare birds and fishes.