This website is intended to highlight some results from research in the Indian ‘sky island’ Shola forest ecosystem from 2000 to 2008 and further ongoing research since then. This collaborative study with multiple people contributing, started with investigating the biology of a small passerine bird, White-bellied Shortwing that lives in the Shola forests in high elevation parts of southern India. The study explored various aspects of how the habitat and the species are tied together and this is summarised in the “Shortwing” section. Since then this study has gone beyond this one species to the endemic faunal and floral community on sky islands, its evolution and conservation.

The story that has unfolded over the years involving this amazing habitat and the exciting species that inhabit it has revealed more than a fair share of surprises. The pages “Shola sky islands” and “sky island fauna” provide a background in which the research project was carried out. Most of this introductory section is borrowed heavily from published literature and many photographs in this website are from friends. There is reference to additional information where available.

The information presented here is kept brief and general such that it is interesting to a diverse audience. More recent research is featured on the page “Current Projects”.   

This project is the product of enormous support from a large number of collaborators, colleagues, friends, volunteers and field assistants. There has also been a lot of support from different organizations, funding agencies and forest departments. I have put all this together along with some information about myself in the “About Me” page.