The Mandakini Magpie Bird Watchers Camp
Even as some of us sit in Delhi and discuss the intricacies of ecotourism and how it’s different from tourism, there are people all over this country who are practicing the former – in the real sense of the word (‘eco’-tourism).
Mr. Yashpal Singh Negi
One such person is Mr. Yashpal Singh Negi who runs a bird watching camp christened, ‘The Mandakini Magpie Bird Watchers Camp’. The camp is located in Kakragad on the bank of River Mandakini en route to Sri Kedarnath.
The Camp
Mr. Negi is a wonderful person who is not only dedicated towards his work but also has in-depth knowledge about birds and the Himalayas. He has been running this camp for the past seven years which is wonderfully exemplified by his experience and expertise.
Apart from bird watching, Mr. Negi also takes interest in collecting bird nests. He has a good collection of bird nests and also of some classic books on bird identification, wildlife and Himalayan Biodiversity. Lately, he has also started making a herbarium of those plant species in which the birds make their nest or feed.
Nest Collection
Ecotourism!
Mr. Yashpal Singh Negi may not know the difference between Tourism and Ecotourism. He may not have even heard of ecotourism. But how he runs his bird watchers camp can be a basic case study of ‘ecotourism in the Himalayas’.
Tent houses
He runs his camp all himself with some help from other people of the area. The tent houses are well maintained and are very inviting with names like ‘Woodpecker Tent, Sparrow Tent, etc!
In his camp, very little of ‘transmitted’ electricity is used. He has solar lanterns which are extensively used instead of the regular electricity.
Solar Lanterns at Mr. Negi’s Camp
All in all, a visit to the Mandakini Magpie Bird Watchers Camp is a must for every bird watcher, nature lover or for anyone who wants a lesson or two in Ecotourism!
Mr. Yashpal Singh Negi can be contacted at the following number: 09412909399
P.S. High Quality Original Images can be made available on demand.
vishal narain said,
April 7, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
My apreciation to Mr. Negi and best wishes for further work. This is very impressive. Perhaps we will hear more from him on Delhibird and about his sightings…
Vineeta said,
April 7, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
I had only heard about him. thank you for the pictures.
Gaurav Dinesh said,
April 7, 2007 @ 11:24 pm
Your description has whetted my appetite to visit this place and meet Mr. Negi. Please give more details about the activities, whereabouts, contact info related to this camp.
Leena Taneja Rao said,
April 8, 2007 @ 3:39 am
Was both alarmed and dismayed to read your report about Yashpal Singh Negi. Laudable as it may sound, collecting nests is definitely to be discouraged. In fact, even collecting plants - especially high-altitude plants - is a no-no. Both pursuits lead to a decline in species and a desecration of nature. However, his interest in flora and fauna is commendable, and he could be steered in the direction of conservation instead of collection.
Govind said,
April 8, 2007 @ 4:53 am
@Gaurav Dinesh: His is a rather small camp with just about 3 tents and space to accommodate about 8 people at the same time.
I have posted his number above and you can talk to him for rest of the details. His camp is one or two hours drive up north from Rudraprayag..and one and half kms before Kund (the place where the road bifurcates, one leading to Ukhimath and another to Gaurikund).
@Leena Taneja Rao: I appreciate your concern. Needless to say, Mr. Negi collects only abandoned nests (is that a problem too?) And even then, he knows well which birds’ offspring use the abandoned nests even after the parent-birds leave and he never touches those.
I, having done my Bachelor’s in Botany have myself collected the high altitude plants (with utmost care) and I think it becomes important for study purpose (the same debate between conservation and academics!). Besides, we saw that Mr. Negi wasn’t guided well and he was just collecting and preserving one or two leaves. So, we (one of the sirs actually) advised him to preserve entire branch, along with the inflorescence (for identification purposes). There aren’t no rare plants that he’s collecting, he’s only preserving a twig of tree.
Leena Taneja Rao said,
April 8, 2007 @ 5:16 am
Hi Govind, thanks for the reply. Well, I guess if he’s particular about not disturbing breeding birds, it should be ok, though I have observed some birds returning to their old nesting sites - and even other birds using disused nests. Regarding the subject of conservation versus academics, I’m sorry I feel very strongly that really very little, if anything, justifies disturbing ecosystems in the interests of ’science’. In fact, I think sometimes scientists, and even ‘conservationists’ can be the most selfish and self-indulgent group of people. Having worked since the late ’60s with conservation organizations here in India, I have been amazed at how many conservationists feel quite self-righteous about jetting off across the country and the world to attend seminars and conferences (’in the larger interests of science’
oblivious to the damage they inflict on the environment. We all tend to think that we are justified in picking the odd wildflower or branch or leaf. Multiply that by the number of botany students/teachers/tourists/local and other biotic pressures… you do the maths!
Saswati Ghosh said,
April 8, 2007 @ 5:15 pm
Hi Govind !
I am extremely thankful to you for publishing on such a nice website about Mr. Negi. Mr. Negi is like a family friend to us. I met him in Chopta in 2002, while returning from Tunganath. He is a nice and intelligent person with vast knowledge about birds, trees of the Himalayas. Hope this site will help to spread the information about Mr. Negi and his work. Hope many tourists visit his camp every year.
Well done Govind.
Surya said,
April 9, 2007 @ 3:39 am
Well done Mr. Negi. and Govind . My all good wishes are with both of you.
Harneet said,
April 10, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
Good work, thanks for this.
vinod said,
April 10, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
This is a fantastic job.Keep it up
Kallol Shome said,
April 30, 2007 @ 7:38 pm
I had been at the Mandakini Magpie camp in Dec 2006. Met Mr Yashpal Negi. What a person he is! I have never seen anyone so perfectly at one with one’s passion..as Negiji is.
Kallol Shome said,
April 30, 2007 @ 8:04 pm
(contd)
I stayed at his camp 4 three days. I trekked with him along Mandakini, watched birds like Blackcapped Sibia, Himalayan Bulbul, Grey Bushchat, Whitecapped Water Redstart, Plumbeous Redstart, Striated Babbler n so on. I trekked to Deoriataal with Negiji, to Guptakashi for some ‘otherworldly’ sunset.. What an exceptional person he is! I hardly saw anyone so focused on one’s pursuit.During a chat he told me”..see, Birds are all I understand in life, they come to me ahead of anything else” . The simplicity of what he said is stunning bcause he actually lives what he said. In my opinion Negiji is a lesson himself specially in 2day’s context when everything seems too transient. We r still in touch thru sms. I do plan 2 go back 2 his camp.. and his birds.
Arunesh Singh said,
May 24, 2007 @ 11:05 am
I am so happy to see the great progress that Negiji has made. We were part of the original team that along with Negiji linked the Camp to the Eco Toursim Project of a local NGO working in Ukhimath. For the most part the credit goes to Negiji for his hard work and ingenuity, I can asure you if you visit the Camp it will be a memorable experience that you will cherish for the rest of your life. Upwards and onwards Negiji !
Re-Visit to the Mandakini Magpie Birdwatchers Camp, Rudraprayag « :: Delhi Greens :: said,
May 29, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
[...] 29, 2007 at 3:49 pm · Filed under Avi-Fauna, IndiYeah!, People As already mentioned, Mr. Yashpal Singh Negi of Kakdagad (District Rudraprayag) has been running the Mandakini Magpie [...]
Bindu said,
May 30, 2007 @ 5:39 pm
Govind, good to know you have written about Negiji.
I had the advantage of his company for five days and believe me
they were the most interesting,educative explorativeand memorable—not a
single dull moment. Will be cherished always– till visit him again perhaps!!
Actually i had already written about him and his camp in my trip report
to Mussoorie,negi’s camp and Dugalbittha.There were many inquiries about
him and his camp after that and i had replied to all of them.
Regards,
Bindu
Dr. Partap Singh Sangwan. said,
June 11, 2007 @ 1:28 am
Wonderful!
I will send him a print out by post.
Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Dr. Partap Singh Sangwan.
Sangwan Hospital
Uklana Mandi Distt. Hisar Haryana -125 113
Ph. 01693-233077, 233677, 235077, 9416044077
pssangwan@rediffmail.com
Shankar Bhatt said,
January 3, 2008 @ 9:03 am
I Like The Collections of nets & interest of negi ji for tourism . I am regarding to Mr. Yaspal Negi. SHANKAR BHATT (SARI)
Shankar Bhatt said,
January 3, 2008 @ 9:04 am
I Like The Collections of nets & interest of negi ji for tourism . I am regarding to Mr. Yaspal Negi. SHANKAR BHATT (SARI) Phone No. 01364212954
Shankar Bhatt said,
January 3, 2008 @ 9:05 am
Lovely
I Like The Collections of nets & interest of negi ji for tourism . I am regarding Thank & Best Wishes To Mr. Yaspal Negi. SHANKAR BHATT (SARI) Phone No. 01364212954
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Arvind Semwal said,
June 27, 2008 @ 1:18 pm
Great ……. I would like to vist the camp .
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