Feather Library Inspires Bird Love And Science In Gujarat
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Esha trained as an architect before shifting her focus fully to bird science. She has watched over 1,086 bird species in India and more than 1,500 globally, and records bird sounds as well. Imagine you’re walking along a path and suddenly find a bird’s feather. You’d instinctively want to pick it up, wouldn’t you? Most people keep some bird feathers safely tucked away in their diary or book. Birds are so beautiful and colourful that their feathers naturally fascinate us. Feathers are incredibly unique—scientists say they show DNA clues, help you figure out where the bird lived or travelled, and can tell stories of their life.
One such bird lover is Ahmedabad-based Esha Munshi, who has a deep passion for bird photography. During the lockdown, an injured Indian Silverbill landed in her courtyard, attacked by a predator. Esha managed to save the bird, but some of its feathers had fallen off. Those very feathers sparked her curiosity and led her to conduct extensive research. She realised that while many people engage in bird photography, students of zoology and ornithology lack accessible resources on bird feathers.
After rescuing that Indian silverbill during the COVID lockdown, Esha was inspired to fill the big gap in feather information online—there was almost nothing on Indian bird feathers. This thought inspired her to establish “Feather Library”, a digital archive dedicated to documenting bird feathers. The Feather Library started in November 2021 as a public website where you can look up feather pictures, count feathers, see wing images, and check bird measurements from dead birds collected ethically
Recently, she made a remarkable achievement by documenting the rare bird Sooty Shearwater (Ardenna grisea), marking the second-ever record for India and the first for Gujarat. This was really special! A sub-adult female sooty shearwater rescued near Porbandar in July 2025 died in treatment, and its body went to the Feather Library. That made it the first preserved specimen of this species in India, and the second record after a sighting off Mangaluru in April 2023.
Esha Munshi (Founder of Feather Library and Collaborator for bird specimens at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru) believes in spreading awareness. She explains, “A bird’s entire body is made of feathers. Even the smallest bird has at least around 1,000 feathers, while the largest birds may have up to 25,000 feathers. Many people are unaware of this fact.” Esha also works with NCBS–TIFR in Bengaluru as an Honorary Curator of Birds, helping with bird specimen care and digital collections.
At present, the Feather Library houses over 350 bird specimens, representing 154 Indian bird species — from kingfishers to flamingos. As of mid-2025, the collection includes over 350 specimens from Gujarat and Karnataka, covering 153 species such as white tern, brown noddy, Malabar grey hornbill, Nilgiri wood-pigeon, emerald dove, and more. The library operates with active collaborations in Gujarat and Karnataka, and all entries are fully digitised, easily accessible through the Feather Library website. She works with avian rescue centres that donate dead birds, sanitises and photographs feathers, notes measurements, and digitally displays them with wings spread.
In Gujarat, she also collaborates with Jivdaya Charitable Trust, Ahmedabad, and works with students and bird enthusiasts. Notably, in Karnataka, all birds that die naturally are donated to the Feather Library. Esha emphasises that while Gujarat has immense potential for research in this field, greater awareness still needs to be created.
Through outreach stalls with Jivdaya Trust and work in schools, Esha teaches children using real feathers. In Karnataka, students visit the library and even make educational videos, helping spread awareness.
Looking ahead, she hopes to incorporate X-rays (for skeletal details) and CT scans (for soft tissue details) into her work. Currently, she is permitted to study bird feathers only in Gujarat and Karnataka, but she aims to expand her work to other states. “I want to build a rescue centre network because I believe they hold a massive scientific database that remains underutilised,” she adds. Building a network with rescue centres across India would help gather more specimens and expand the digital archive into a true national scientific resource
Speaking about her vision, Esha says, “The primary aim of establishing the Feather Library was to give something meaningful back to science and society. As a birdwatcher, I realised we can learn so much from birds. Their feathers, calls, and behaviour provide valuable insights into our ecosystem. I wanted to create a platform that preserves this knowledge and makes it accessible to researchers and the public. The Feather Library is a non-invasive collection of bird specimens that contributes to conservation, education, and scientific research. This project deepened my interest in bird education as I witnessed how sharing knowledge can inspire others to care for birds and their habitats. By focusing on education, the Feather Library empowers students, researchers, and bird enthusiasts to connect with nature in meaningful ways. Ultimately, I aim to foster a deeper appreciation for birds and their role in our world, bridging the gap between science and society.” The concept of the “extended specimen”—including feathers, sound, and photos—is central to Esha’s educational approach, bringing bird science closer to the public
She strongly believes that people, especially children, are always eager to learn, and it is our responsibility to nurture that curiosity with meaningful and engaging knowledge. Whether through hands-on experiences, stories about wildlife, or guided field explorations, we hold the key to opening young minds to the wonders of nature. By fostering their desire to learn, we help shape the next generation of nature advocates, conservationists, and conscious citizens — something the world needs now more than ever. For more information, you can visit www. www.featherlibrary.com. The Feather Library site is open-access and designed to be used by everyone: students, bird watchers, researchers, and curious learners alike.
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