Rubab Nayeem Khan brings forth the life of bird-watching extraordinaire Tareq Onu
Birder, adventurer and author of the books, Prithibir Pothe Pothe and Poth Cholatei Anondo, Tareq Onu’s love for nature’s gifts is what takes him to the great heights and scenic landscapes that are tucked away in every corner of the world. His work, intertwined with his passions, has led him to unearth the rare flora and fauna that exist in the wild.
From conquering great heights like Mount Cho Oyu in Tibet, to capturing photos of wild birds in Tanguar Haor in Sunamganj, travelling is second nature to Onu. Upon asking him, what fuels his love for the journey, he says, “I travel whenever I can, because I love it. I believe in enjoying life to the fullest by giving back to Mother Nature. In the process, I get to gather memories and make friends.”
According to Onu, extensive travelling helps one gather insight on things outside books. “Once you start travelling, you’re never the same person again. You not only gain more knowledge on things but also develop a sense of maturity which helps one deal with the highs and lows of life with ease. Even if you read up on travel or nature, it will not come close to the feeling of being out in the wilderness, experiencing the morning breeze while listening to birds chirping at a distance. That’s something you can never find in books or videos,” says Onu with pride.
The passionate traveller has dedicated himself to protecting the birds in the wild, as they are subjected to threats even in their natural habitat. Every trip is a way to finding solutions that prevent long-term threats to the bird population. “We try to collect data to identify important bird areas and possible threats to birds. When an important area is detected we usually conduct bird census every year to know the trend of the population. If it decreases, we take some measures with the help of local people. While doing so, we try to raise awareness on birds among the locals in several ways.
In his opinion, birds can be seen everywhere, including the urban city areas. However, when it comes to travelling to see birds, one can explore distant places like deserts, tropical rainforests, islands and mountains to witness endemic and special birds.
On a final note, Onu believes that to pursue bird-watching one doesn’t need to follow any special advice. “All you need is a love for birds, field guide, a notebook and binoculars to identify them correctly, especially if you’re a beginner. Once you start identifying them by sight or listening to their call, you will thoroughly enjoy the art of bird-watching,” he vouches.