Birds and Wildlife of Northern India

In December of 2007 Ukiah's expert birder-photographer Matthew Matthiessen traveled across northern India for 16 days with a tour group composed of avid bird watchers. As the group explored the foothills of the Himalayas, the Chambal River, two of India's national parks, and even the area around the Taj Mahal, Matthew took photographs of birds and other wildlife. Just before the end of the trip, however, Matthew's cameras and photos were stolen.

Not one to let people down, Matthew figured out a way to keep a commitment he had made before he left he will give his talk using slides borrowed from other members of his tour group.

If Matthew's three previous slideshows "Birds of Borneo," "Birds and Wildlife of Uganda," and "Birds of Cameroon" are any indication, the approximately 250 images in the upcoming presentation will flash by so fast the audience will be left wishing for more. Matthew's skillful arrangements of images, his prodigious memory, and his snappy and often-humorous delivery combine for a vividly entertaining experience.

This program will feature images of birds such as Tawny Fish Owl, Malabar Pied Hornbill, and Red-billed Blue Magpie, as well as four-footed animals such as deer, a strange crocodile known as a Gharial, and maybe even some tigers. "I'd seen photographs of Gharials before," Matthew laughs, "but I was totally taken aback when I saw one in real life. They are fantastic creatures. Much larger than I was expecting.

"India is the Serengeti of Asia," says Matthew. "It's astonishing how much wildlife there is. The birds were very cooperative on this trip and the photographic opportunities were fantastic." Some of his other favorite birds were the stunning Greater Yellownape, the Brown Hawk-Owl, and the Wallcreeper. The Hawk-Owl and Wallcreeper were two of the five birds on his wish list for the trip.