What is your favorite bird species?
The Narina Trogon. I even feel like it could be a good candidate for our national bird, carrying all the colours of the Kenyan flag. It’s not a bird you simply stumble across; you must earn the sighting by tracking its ventriloquial calls. It immediately draws me deep into the forest, a place where I feel most at peace. As both a photographer and a guide, locking focus on that vibrant green and bright red plumage makes the moment even more rewarding.
What is your name, and where do you live?
My name is Adarsh Nagda, and I am from Nairobi, Kenya
Lilac-breasted Roller
What are the main regions or locations you cover as a bird guide?
I cover birding sites across the entirety of Kenya and offer tailor-made tours based entirely on each birder’s budget, birding style, target species, and whether they’d like to see other wildlife. I also have a number of reliable locations for specific target species, so a tour with me goes beyond just the classic birding sites.
Variable Sunbird
How long have you been a bird guide?
I have been guiding for three years.
Straw-tailed Whydah
How did you get into bird guiding?
Birding feels like one of those hobbies that slowly creeps up on you. For me, it started in April 2023 at Nairobi National Park. I vividly remember spotting a striking white bird of prey perched at the top of a tree. I took a photo and posted it to ask for an ID, and was told it was a Palm-nut Vulture, a very rare sighting for Nairobi. At the same time, just opposite the vulture, was a Lesser Grey Shrike. I found out it was a migrant species, which completely changed the way I saw birds. The idea that something in front of me had travelled across continents was fascinating. The next day I went down a rabbit hole learning about bird migration, downloaded a few birding apps, and the rest is history.
Violet-backed Starling
What are the aspects of being a bird guide that you like best? Which aspects do you dislike most?
I love meeting international birders from all over the world, and the fact that we can connect so easily. I also love celebrating every bird with my clients, whether it’s someone’s first Variable Sunbird or their long-awaited Hinde’s Pied Babbler. Watching someone finally connect with a target species is just as rewarding as finding it myself.
The biggest challenge is that being considered a good bird guide is often linked with decades of experience. As a young guide, I definitely have to prove myself more, and many client relationships begin with trust before we’ve even stepped into the field together.
Malachite Sunbird
Can you outline at least one typical birdwatching trip in your area? Please briefly describe the locations, the key birds and the approximate duration of such a trip
A full day of birding at Nairobi National Park. It’s my favourite birding hotspot in the country due to its sheer abundance of birdlife. Recording over 200 species here in a single day during the right season is not uncommon, and I take most of my clients with limited time in Kenya on a day trip here. Seeing well over 150 species is a realistic target when birding with me! For someone’s first visit to Kenya, it’s the perfect place to get a taste of what hardcore birding here is all about. Throughout the day we pass through a variety of habitats, including open grassland, acacia woodland, riverine forest, wetlands, and rocky valleys, allowing us to target a wide array of species in a relatively small area. Some of the highlights include Secretarybird, Kori Bustard, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Grey Crowned Crane, and a fantastic variety of raptors, waterbirds, and migrants depending on the time of year.
What are the top 5-10 birds in your region that are the most interesting for visiting birders?
It’s extremely difficult to narrow down a list of over 1100 birds, but these are some of the species visiting birders to Nairobi are often most excited about: Hartlaub’s Turaco, Hinde’s Pied Babbler (Endemic), Jackson’s Widowbird, Superb Starling, Kikuyu White-eye (Endemic), Giant Kingfisher, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Lilac-breasted Roller
Hartlaub’s Turaco
What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in your area?
November to April is fantastic because Kenya hosts large numbers of Palearctic migrants. Birding during the long rains is often overlooked; however, it can be incredibly productive. Temperatures are cooler, many birds are breeding or have recently fledged their chicks, and the overcast conditions often keep bird activity high throughout the day. A scope is generally not necessary, as many birds are seen at relatively close range, but a long camera lens is recommended for national parks where you cannot leave your vehicle.
African Green-Pigeon
If any readers of 10,000 Birds are interested in birding with you, how can they best contact you?
My email address is adarsh.nagda@gmail.com
Hinde’s Pied Babbler
Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers of 10,000 Birds?
As a young guide, I hope I represent a new generation of birders that blends traditional field skills with photography, technology, and conservation. My journey from a nine-year-old wildlife enthusiast with a fixed-lens camera to co-hosting National Geographic and Disney’s Team Sayari has taught me how to share nature in a way that people genuinely connect with. My goal is to help birders remember their fabulous Kenyan birding experience long after they’ve returned home.
All bird photos by Adarsh Nagda
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