Can an endangered bird be nonchalant? Here’s how the determined author waited and found the Rufous-necked Hornbill perched on a tree somewhere amidst tea gardens, forests and busy roads.

I set my alarm for 4:30 am to ensure that I get an early start on my fieldwork. To my surprise, I woke up to pleasant notes of song birds although there was still an hour to go till sunrise. I dragged myself out of bed and by the time my assistant Sameer and I were ready to leave, the orange rays of the sun had lit up the morning sky. Soon a purple-orange hue accompanied the cacophony of busy bulbuls, barbets and the blue whistling thrush – common birds in this landscape. It was a perfect prelude to what lay in store for us.