He loves to host winged visitors in his garden

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 19

While most of the people would just plant a garden in the hope of enjoying a green space – he plants them to host birds, butterflies, skippers, moths and insects.

A doctor, photographer, bio-diversity documenter – 32-year-old Dr Tanvir Bakshi — has turned his passion into an extended vocation.

The whole purpose of building a pleasure garden was to host birds and butterflies. His garden has become a manifestation of his penchant for photography. A rose garden, a butterfly garden and his two towering coral trees form his treasured plant world. He is also planning to come up with a moth garden which he plans to plant in the near future.

An avid photographer, who has meticulously recorded the bio-diversity of Punjab, it was to study and photograph birds, butterflies and moths that Dr Bakshi began planting a garden 5 to 6 years back. Today, it is home to a variety of sunbirds, insects and the butterflies.

He first planted two coral trees just for ornamental purposes. However, once they bloomed – myriad sun birds began flocking his garden. He woke up to surreal views in his balcony – countless birds chirping their hearts away on his beloved coral tree. He witnessed rare birds with beautiful plumage. Due to the proximity of the tree to his balcony – he got to photograph them the way he had never done before.

“I love photography and had been documenting the biodiversity and insects, birds, butterflies of Punjab for years. I was also interested in what kind of birds and insects frequent Jalandhar. A coral tree I planted by accident began hosting unusual sunbirds which I never saw in the region before. These have beautiful plumage and I just loved the birds I saw right by my balcony. I planted the trees about five years ago and now they are now quite tall. It presents a beautiful sight in March and April when they bloom.”

Speaking about his fascination about moths he laughs, “For most people moths are pests. But I have documented them a lot before I began planting the garden and I just want to study and photograph them. Moths also have a huge variety and I want to document those in the region.”