Bird Photography at Yamuna Biodiversity Park & Kamla Nehru Ridge – A Forest & Urban Nature Vlog Experience

This combined bird photography experience covers two very different ecological spaces in Delhi NCR—Yamuna Biodiversity Park, a scientifically restored forest ecosystem managed by the forest department, and Kamla Nehru Ridge, a dense urban forest in North Delhi.

Both locations offer contrasting birding conditions and together provide a realistic understanding of how urban biodiversity behaves across managed and unmanaged green spaces.

Yamuna Biodiversity Park – A Restored Ecosystem Experience

My visit to Yamuna Biodiversity Park was pre-planned and well-structured. I had taken prior permission from the forest department via email, after which I was allowed to enter the park for a guided session.

At around 9 a.m., a local forest staff member guided me through the biodiversity park, explaining the ecological restoration process and the native vegetation being revived in the area. The walk lasted for a couple of hours and offered a structured look at one of Delhi’s most important conservation projects.

Birding Conditions in Summer

Since the visit took place during peak summer, bird activity was relatively limited. However, the ecosystem still supported a variety of resident and wetland-associated birds.

During the walk, I observed:

• Local resident bird species

• Coots

• Waders

• Stints and stilts along wet patches

Although migratory diversity was low due to the season, the experience still highlighted how restored ecosystems function even in harsh climatic conditions.

The park itself demonstrated how ecological planning and forest department intervention can gradually rebuild biodiversity in degraded landscapes.

Kamla Nehru Ridge – Dense Urban Forest Birding

The second part of this experience took place at Kamla Nehru Ridge, one of the oldest forest patches in North Delhi.

Unlike Yamuna Biodiversity Park, this visit was completely independent, where I explored the area on my own after reaching by car.

A Dense Forest with Limited Visibility

Kamla Nehru Ridge is characterized by:

• Extremely dense vegetation

• Limited open visibility

• High monkey population (Rhesus macaques)

• Scattered small water patches

While the forest is rich in biodiversity, bird photography here is particularly challenging due to thick foliage and movement restrictions inside the canopy.

Even though bird presence exists, capturing usable photographic frames is difficult because:

• Birds remain deep inside the canopy

• Light penetration is limited

• Movement is often unpredictable

Bird Sightings at the Ridge

Despite the challenges, I was able to capture a few usable images of:

• Little Cormorant near water patches

These sightings were limited but still valuable, especially considering the difficulty of accessing clear vantage points inside such a dense urban forest.

Two Contrasting Ecosystems in One Experience

What made this combined experience interesting was the contrast between both locations:

Yamuna Biodiversity Park

• Managed and guided ecosystem

• Structured restoration work

• Open wetland birding zones

• Educational conservation approach

Kamla Nehru Ridge

• Dense, unmanaged urban forest feel

• Limited visibility for photography

• High wildlife presence but difficult access

• More exploratory than structured

Together, they provided a balanced understanding of how different types of urban green spaces function in Delhi NCR.

Final Thoughts

This combined birding experience reinforced an important aspect of wildlife photography in urban landscapes—not all biodiversity is equally accessible for photography, even if it exists in abundance.

Yamuna Biodiversity Park offered structure, guidance, and ecological learning, while Kamla Nehru Ridge offered raw, dense forest exploration with limited photographic success but strong environmental presence.

For me, both locations were valuable in different ways—one teaching ecosystem restoration, and the other teaching patience in dense forest birding conditions within the city.