Birding in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Mr. Dev Anand Paul narrates his birding experience in Little Andaman Island with us. He and three other birders had joined the 7 Nights 8 Days South & Little Andaman group tour in December 2024.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, nestled in the Bay of Bengal, between India and Myanmar, are an archipelago of 572 islands. The islands’ long isolation from mainland India allowed species to adapt to the island’s specific habitats, resulting in many endemic species.
The islands have 280 bird species, including 105 unique (at the species or subspecies level) to the islands, making up 12% of India’s endemic birdlife, despite covering just 0.25% of the country’s landmass. This includes 28 of the 142 endemic bird species of the Indian subcontinent.
Birding in the Andamans had long been my dream, and in December 2024, it came true. Reaching Port Blair (a port town and the capital of Andaman and Nicobar), Latha, my birding companion from Ernakulam, and I teamed up with Debb and Badri, two seasoned birders from Bangalore. Shakti Vel, a renowned birding expert based in Port Blair, was our guide for the 7-day trip.
Day 1
We arrived in Port Blair in the morning. After lunch, we headed to Chidiya Tapu Biological Park at 2:30 p.m. As we entered the park, bird sounds filled the air, and a light drizzle began. Lush greenery surrounded us; however, I was surprised to find the trail paved with cement bricks. They were slippery from the rain, and I thought, why not leave the forest in its natural state!
As we scanned the undergrowth, I noticed some movement and was excited to spot an Andaman crake. I stood still, not wanting to disturb it. It gradually moved on to the trailing path, coming so close that I could not capture the whole bird in the frame!
If you enjoyed reading the birding experience in Little Andaman. You can join our South & Little Andaman Tour; click on our available tour dates listed in our tour calendar.
