It is often thought that when we look at nature we discover our true selves, so what better way to contemplate life than through bird watching from your luxury villa in Assagao. At Kasu Vana you will be surrounded by lush trees and manicured greens that will make bird-watching a  relaxing and sublime experience. To start with, let’s identify these beautiful fascinating creatures by their striking features:

By Their Plumage

The easiest way of identifying birds from the comfort of your backyard in Goa is by their colour and the characteristic markings on their plumage. A bird with an entirely orange head and upper parts is most likely to be an Orange Headed Thrush as is a bright green bird with slight blue tinges, a Green Bee-eater. Spotting The Indian Golden Oriole can immediately brighten your day with its golden yellow body and batman black eye stripe. That little one with a hangman’s mask sitting on the window sill of a Portuguese house in Goa is intriguing you? You’ve spotted a Black-Hooded Oriole. Does your morning companion have red blushing cheeks with a thin black moustache line? Then it’s the Red-whiskered Bulbul for your viewing pleasure. Look out for an olive green bird with yellow underparts, a black head, and a striking orange-red throat and you’ve spotted the state bird of Goa The Flame Throated Bulbul.

By Their Bottoms And Tails 

The long draping tails of the Paradise Flycatcher that you can spot at Kasu Vana are absolutely mesmerizing. They could be mistaken for ribbons of either brown or white playing in the sunlight. If you spot a Racket-tailed Drongo with black excessively long outer tail feathers, ending in a tuft, which gives it an air of elegance and grace, it will leave you wondering if nature had an afterthought. The Purple Rumped Sunbird and The Black Rumped Flameback are named for their different coloured bottoms, so you know where to look to identify them. 

By Their Beaks

The Malabar Pied Hornbill and the Malabar Grey Hornbill are fascinating to watch should they grace your enticing green spaces. With large bills as their names suggest you can almost expect to have a conversation with them while relaxing at your luxury villa.

Things To Help You Along 

Although just the act of spotting and identifying a bird with the naked eye can be a lot of fun, a pair of binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens will make the experience more interesting. Keep a good bird reference book handy or download an identification app and before you know it you will turn into a serious birder. Following birding groups on Instagram will also help with identifying common species.  If you want to attract birds to your luxurious backyard and entertain yourself with their various rituals then install a couple of birdbaths and feeders. Tawny Bellied Babbler, Brown Cheeked Fulvetta, and Orange Headed Thrush are most commonly spotted frolicking around in birdbaths so look out for them.  The songs of birds are as distinct as their personalities and habits and in no time you will be able to tell who your visitor is before spotting them. 

Sipping a cup of tea early in the morning or chilling with a beer at dusk at your luxury villa can only be enhanced with a feathered friend in the vicinity. If you liked the photos in this article, be sure to check out the beautiful collection of wildlife photographs taken by the immensely talented photographer Rahul Alvares. Start your new hobby today!