Wed Jan 01 13:59:15 UTC 2025: ## Hyderabad Birder Documents India’s Elusive Owls
**Hyderabad, India (January 1, 2025)** – Mohan Sriker, a 39-year-old regional manager from Rajamahendravaram, is on a dedicated mission to photograph India’s diverse owl population. Despite the challenges of their elusive nature and expert camouflage, Sriker has already captured images of 16 of the estimated 40 owl species found in India.
Sriker’s passion for birding has taken him across Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Thattekad, requiring significant patience and often long hours of observation. He notes that owls are active at dawn and dusk, and their calls can help in locating them. He emphasizes the difficulty in sighting owls due to habitat loss, pollution, human disturbance, and insufficient conservation efforts. Among his favorites are the barn owl and the mottled wood owl. Sriker’s project highlights the beauty and challenges of documenting India’s diverse wildlife.
First Piper 