About us

Introduction to the Feather Library

A feather lying on the ground could have belonged to any number of species of birds. The type of feather, the colour, the pattern, the markings all tell a story on how to try and identify the owner. Our founding member (Esha Munshi) came up with an idea that if we could compare the feather to an existing database it would help narrow down the options and even help pinpoint the species of the bird. But no such database is in existence for Indian bird species.

In Gujarat alone we have more than 500 bird species. Trying to identify a bird based on just the feather seemed like a daunting task. So it was decided that we would try to record and document as many species as we can. It started with collecting feather samples from Road kills and photographing the feathers. All feathers were counted, measured and photographed. Species details were noted down along with the location.

Our co-founding member (Sherwin Everett) works at an avian hospital in Ahmedabad. The hospital receives around 1500-2000 birds per month, mostly being pigeons, kites and crows along with a fewer other common and some rare species. A number of the birds succumb to their injuries and stress, after which their bodies are discarded to the local corporation for disposal. This was a colossal pool of data just going to waste, literally.

We started collecting the feather samples from these birds to establish a basic database of bird species found in and around Ahmedabad. The centre also receives birds from various other parts of Gujarat, which has widened the horizon greatly. All birds were declared dead by the vets after which feathers were measured and documented. We wish to  create and curate a database of the various bird species found here in India.  So far we have recorded over 75 species, including a few migratory rarities.  We are making notes on the flight feathers, noting the number of Primaries, Secondaries, Tertials (Wing Feathers) and Rectrices (Tail Feathers) along with the basic details of the bird like overall length, bill length and width, leg lengths up to the digits, etc. We are also documenting one wing fully stretched and tail fanned in dorsal and ventral views. This provides us with valuable data as to the exact number of feathers, any changes in shape, any specialty, colour, pattern and size. The collected feathers have been arranged by type and settled into a plate for easy viewing and comparison.

This is the first website for documenting, identification and study of Indian Birds’ flight feathers in India and one of its kind in the World.

A website by the name of www.featherlibrary.com has been setup as the database for the documented feathers. It is open for all and with easy access to feather plates, data regarding the species, wingspan, number of feathers, various other measurements and location of the bird. This will be useful for ornithologists, Forest department staff,  researchers, seasoned bird watchers and even creating an interest in budding birders. The main aim is to have all of this data under one roof. Our long term goal is to expand and gradually cover all of India. 

Thanking you,

Team Feather Library

Esha Munshi (Founder)

Sherwin Everett (Co-founder)

TEAM

Esha Munshi
Founder

Our founding member, Esha Munshi, is an architect, birdwatcher and citizen scientist. She came up with the idea of creating a reference library of feathers to be able to identify birds from their feathers. Because no such reference was available for India, she decided to document flight feathers from dead birds, noting the number of primaries, secondaries, tertials, alulas and rectrices, and creating a digital library with photographs. We arranged all feathers by type and into plates for easy viewing and comparison.

Sherwin Everett
Co-founder

Our co-founding member, Sherwin Everett, works at an avian hospital in Ahmedabad. The hospital receives around 1500-2000 birds per month, mostly pigeons, kites and crows, but also several other common and rare species. A number of the birds succumb to their injuries and stress, after which their bodies are discarded to the local corporation for disposal. He felt that this was a colossal pool of data just going to waste, literally. We decided to use this opportunity and began documenting feathers from birds that were declared dead by vets.

Vishal Mistry
Team Member

Vishal is from Vaso village of Kheda District, Gujarat, India. He is a naturalist, birder and wildlife researcher. Previously he has worked on different projects on Sarus Cranes, Vultures, Wild Ass, Forest Owlet, Indian Wolf, Flamingos, Odonates, Arachnids, Mugger Crocodiles, Dugong etc. with different organisations like SACON, Anand Agriculture University, Wildlife Institute Of India, BNHS, Nature Club Surat, Jivdaya Charitable Trust, WWF-India and Voluntary Nature Conservancy.

Aamir Matli
Team Member

Aamir Matli is from Bhavnagar and he has been birding since 2016 when he was doing his bachelor’s in zoology from Bhavnagar. He competed his Masters in wildlife conservation this year from Vadodara. He is a naturalist, researcher and an avid brider. He is currently studying the behavioral Ecology of certain species of birds, especially shorebirds.

Saswat Mishra
Team Member

Saswat Mishra has been documenting birds from a young age and birdwatching was always a passion of his. By education he is a M.Tech in Electrical Engineering. He belongs to the state of Odisha but he is currently a Resident of Silvassa (U.T of D&NH). He is currently focused on conservation work of Forest Owlets throughout India and documenting them for various projects by Govt. Of India (Ministry of Environment)

Mital Patel
Team Member

He is a professional photographer. He has been photographing birds since 2009. He is the Co-founder of WildArt.in along with Kunan Naik.

Pradyuman Sindha
Team Member

Pradyuman is from Bharuch District, Gujarat, India. He is a wildlife researcher and Drone pilot. Previously he has worked on Sarus cranes, Mugger Crocodile, Dugong, Great Indian bustard etc. With organisations like the Wildlife Institute of India, Wildlife conservation society and voluntary nature conservancy.

Vyom Vyas
Volunteer

Vyom is in the final phase of his schooling years and since he has developed a keen interest in Ornithology and wishes to pursue a career in the same field in the future. He has developed an interest in bird watching since the age of 13 years.

Pratham Shah
Volunteer

He is a student studying in 11th Standard. For many years he has served at Jivdaya Charitable Trust as a volunteer. He wishes to pursue his career in Avian Biology.

Harmenn Huidrom
Team Member

Harmenn is based in Manipur. He has been into birds and wildlife since 2009. His knowledge of North-eastern birds is commendable. He is a distant contributor to the feather library.

Binanda Hatibourah
Team Member

He is a one of the best professional bird guides for north-eastern India birds and has been leading birding tours from 2010. He is based near Maguri beel in Gottong gaon, Tinsukia, Assam.

Chirag Tank
Volunteer

Professionally a banker and a wildlife rescuer since last 20 years in Porbandar. A birder and a rescuer in Porbandar region.

R B Modhvadiya
Volunteer

A forest guard, a wildlife rescuer and a birder since last 6 to 7 years in Porbandar region.