Srinagar: The Valley based wildlife photographers club, Birds of Kashmir has launched its first unique and eye-catching calendar depicting different rare and unique birds at Kashmir Haat.
Apart from the print format they will also launch digital calendars. In the calendar they use the images of different rare birds and use a unique text format which attracts the people’s attention.
The occasion was graced by Mehmood Ahmad Shah who is the director of Handicrafts and Handloom , Rashid Naqash, Regional Wildlife Warden, DFO Sindh Forest Division Ganderbal, Ovais Mir,
Irfan Jeelani who is the member and founder of the group Birds of Kashmir, and many other members of this bird group who belongs from the valley as well as from the outside were present there who apricated the members of this club
The founder of this club Irfan Jeelani said that they started the journey in March 2020, and till now we have around four thousand six hundred members across the Kashmir Himalayas. I have done bird and wildlife photography outside the valley and now I am trying to introduce the concept of bird photography also there”. He added ” The birds of Kashmir club wants to promote bird tourism in Kashmir and the most important thing is that we want to develop a society which is concerned for the environment. I also have a dream to establish a bird rescue center in the valley because unfortunately we don’t have any bird rescue center in the valley”.
In the valley this year, people recorded many new rare birds in their cameras and also the photographers were able to capture Pallas’s Rosefinch which is seen for the first time in the valley as well as in india. Many other birds like Common Redstart, white tailed eagle, Little bunting, Daurian Redstart, Blyth’s Rosefinch, Tundra swans, and yellowhammer have been seen.
Wajid Lone, a wildlife photographer who has won several awards and also the member of this club said, ” The photographs in the calendar represent the beauty of nature and the club, where I along with other fellows are trying to explore the rich bird diversity of the valley. The club not only captures the pictures of birds but also is always at the forefront against illegal poaching of the birds”.
Meanwhile the director of the Handicrafts and Handloom appreciated the whole team of the club and said that it is a great idea to explore the beauty of nature and wild animals.
“We always support the club and are glad to see the work of our talented young wildlife photographers who explore the beauty of nature,” Shah said.

Naveed Ahmad Najar