RAJA Bandi
PROJECT COORDINATOR (CITIZEN SCIENCE)
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RESEARCH INTERESTS
Natural history always enthralls me, and I strongly believe that bringing awareness in the general public through nature education is the best practice for biodiversity conservation. I am keen to accomplish strategic capacity building initiatives by employing an efficient citizen science framework. The goal is to engage more members of the public in conducting biodiversity surveys, collecting data, and reporting observations using tools like ebird and inaturalist. I am also passionate about tracking changes in ecosystems over time and studying the factors that trigger these changes. To benefit ecosystems, I always aspire to bridge the gap between biodiversity conservation & management authorities and qualified research groups. With a background in internal investigations of a global financial services environment, I enjoy working on natural history investigations, mostly historical records of birds and animals in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh is one of the least explored biodiversity hotspots in the country. Exploring and recording the biodiversity of Eastern Ghats and supporting long term research initiatives in the landscape is my strong passion. Currently, I am working on engaging citizens in local projects to increase the capacity to accomplish the conservation of rare and vulnerable wildlife and foster a greater understanding of biodiversity in the landscape. Projects Involved: Tirupati Bird Atlas, Capacity Building. PERSONAL AND OTHER INTERESTS
I love bird watching and in the field; I enjoy studying and analyzing signs and tracks of wild animals, especially big cats. Taking children out to nature walks, and exploring nature with them always fascinate me. I do volunteer for ebird in reviewing bird records and hotspots for two states in India. During my free time, I network with stakeholders across different landscapes, stakeholders that can potentially bring positive change to the natural world around them. I love traveling, mostly food expeditions. |
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PUBLICATIONS
RESEARCH ARTICLES:
POPULAR ARTICLES:
RESEARCH ARTICLES:
- Warudkar, A., Goyal, N., Kher, V., Vinay, K. L., Chanda, R., Bandi, R. S., Jenkins, C. N., Robin, V. V., & Pimm, S. L. (2022). Using the area of habitat to assess the extent of protection of India's birds. Biotropica, 00, 1– 14. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.13132
- Bandi, R., Kolluru, A., Kolluru, P. Confirmation of Chinese Sparrowhawk Accipiter soloensis from the Indian mainland. Indian BIRDS Vol. 17 No. 4.
- Kher, V., Bandi, R., Deshpande, Y. Status of the Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting in the northern Eastern Ghats and the Rajmahal Hills of eastern India. Indian BIRDS Vol. 17 No. 5.
- Singh, P., Kumawat, R. N., Solanki, J., Sharma, D., & Bandi, R., 2019. On the plumages of Stoliczka’s Bushchat Saxicola macrorhynchus, and its possible breeding in Jorbeer Conservation Reserve, Bikaner, Rajasthan. Indian BIRDS 15 (1): 21–23
POPULAR ARTICLES:
- Global warming could upset Antarctic food chain (2014) https://news.mongabay.com/2014/01/global-warming-could-upset-antarctic-food-chain/
- Beetles in the spotlight: a new species of burying beetle from the Solomon Islands Archipelago (2013) https://news.mongabay.com/2013/11/beetles-in-the-spotlight-a-new-species-of-burying-beetle-from-the-solomon-islands-archipelago/
- Pandav, B. and Kumar, R.S. 2014. Impact of artificial illumination on sea-finding behavior of olive ridley sea turtle at Gahirmatha rookery, Odisha. Report submitted to the Directorate of Lighthouses and Lightships. Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. 15 Pp.
