In 2006-07 the only bird group operating in North Western part of India (other than organisations like BHNS and IBA) worth the name was Delhi Bird and this group had Bill Harvey, Sumit Sen, Nikhil Devasar, K.B Singh, Suresh C Sharma, Sh. Anand Arya, Dr PS Sangwan, Mr Bikram Grewal, Wing Commander Vijay Sethi, and Ms Nitu Sethi who were mentoring and encouraging birders from the region. In the group, there were Navjit Singh (General Secretary Avian Habitat and Wetland Society), Mrs. Rima Dhillon , Mrs. Sarbjeet Kaur, Mrs. Geeta Goswami, Mr. Vikramjit Singh, and Narbir Singh from Chandigarh. AHWS had already got a bird list from the region (250 species) and the birders from Chandigarh on the group by virtue of expanding the study area and by having more eyes on the ground was discovering additional species from the region regularly. There were other birders in the region like General Baljit Singh, and Air Marshal MM Singh but they were a closed group and not tech savvy.
In 2008 Navjit Singh took the initiative and called for a meeting at the Chandigarh Boat Club hosted by Dr. Dharendera Kumar (President AHWS). At this meeting the idea of doing more than just birding was mooted, and this group decided to conduct a bird survey for Morni Hills and Chandigarh Wildlife Sanctuary. In this, the group was encouraged by Dr. DR Ramesh (Then PCCF Wildlife, Haryana) and Sh. Ishwar Singh (CCF Forests and Wildlife, Chandigarh). This survey may not have been a success but for the team which came in from Delhi Bird group and the efforts of all those based at Chandigarh, it certainly was. At this first initiative the group was honoured to have Dr. Vibhu Prakash and Mr. Prateek Panwar (Action and Research for Conservation in the Himalayas) as guest speakers. During this survey Mr. Suresh C Sharma mooted the idea of starting an e-group for the region, which he created i.e birdschandigarh@ googlegroups.com and at his behest a large number of people joined the group (over 300 Members). This group has since grown with the addition of the Nangal chapter headed by Prabhat Bhatti, and a stronger more tech savvy Chandigarh chapter.
This Survey was followed up by a survey of Harike Pattan a survey which was conducted with the assistance of the Indian Army, and the organisational capabilities of the Club were brought to the forefront. And the mandate given to the Club by the then PCCF Wildlife, Punjab was met. The fallout of this survey was a stricter regimen at Harike by the forest department resulting in a virtual ban on poaching there. The group has been engaged in the annual survey of this Sanctuary, and the Nangal Bird sanctuary ever since. Mrs. Rima Dhillon introduced ‘HSBC BirdRace’, an annual fun event. Mrs. Sarbjeet continues to coordinate with local NGO’s , Prof. Mitinderpal Sekhon brought on board a whole lot of practical experience of the outdoors, Amandeep Singh, a local student compiles and edits the club’s e-newsletter, while birding, and, Rajive Das, Mahesh Garg, Parveen Malhotra and Col Cheema brought technical experience and knowledge of what’s new in the field of photography and the e-space. Outstation Birding Trips as a group followed and the group has a vibrant local membership. Chandigarh Bird today has a vibrant local membership. Members meet on the first Saturday of every month, and go out birding together as a group on the second Sunday of the month. Membership to the group is open and all those interested in birding are free to join this group.