TRIBESMEN TOURS Expert Andaman Birding Guides & Field Ornithologists
Navigating the rainforests and fragile micro-climates of the archipelago requires more than just a checklist—it takes lifelong field instincts. As dedicated Andaman birding guides, the team at Tribesmen brings over a decade of active field experience to every expedition. Born and raised across the Andaman Islands, our native guides know these complex ecosystems inside out, from hidden roosting sites to subtle canopy calls. Whether you are targeting rare endemics or building a serious life list, our local expertise puts you in the exact right spot at the right time.
| Guide Name | Base Region | Specialty Target Species | Scientific & Field Credentials |
|---|---|---|---|
| G. Shaktivel (Founder) | Andaman & Nicobar, All Islands / Pelagics | All Endemics, Owls, Waders, Warblers, Vocalizations | Ex-BNHS Scientist, M.Sc. Marine Biology | Bird Count India Regional Coordinator | Re-discovered Pale-footed Bush Warbler | 1st Javan Pond-heron & White-faced Plover record for South Asia | 1st Collared Pratincole, White-browed Crake, Red-billed Tropicbird, Spotted Flycatcher and 8 more species records for Andaman |
| Jabili Rao | South & Little Andaman | Endemics & Residents, Rare Vagrants | First and only female bird guide in Andaman | 1st Band-bellied Crake record for India & Ortolan Bunting for Andaman. |
| Prodip Sarder | Andaman & Nicobar, All Islands | Deep Rainforest specialties, Vocalizations, Herpetofauna | Native rainforest tracking specialist | Endemic reptiles & amphibians | 1st Barau's Petrel record for Andaman |
| Dr. Aldrich Franklin | South Andaman & Nicobars | Micro-habitat endemics, Photography framing | Doctorate in Pharmacy (PharmD) | Meticulous field data tracking |
G. Shaktivel Founder, Bird Guide & Endemic/Vagrant Specialist
- Specialties: Island Endemics, Passage Migrants & Rare Vagrants, Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus) & Wader Identification, Avian Vocalizations, Photography Coaching
- Academic & Institutional Credentials: M.Sc. Marine Biology | Former Researcher, Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) | Former Scientist, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
- Historic Field Discoveries & National Firsts:
- Historic Rediscovery: Pale-footed Bush Warbler (Urosphena pallidipes osmastoni) after 112 years of zero confirmed regional records
- 1st Confirmed Records for India: Javan Pond Heron (Ardeola speciosa) and White-faced Plover (Charadrius dealbatus)
- 1st Confirmed Records for Andaman Islands: White-browed Crake (Poliolimnas cinereus), Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus), Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola), and Black-winged Cuckooshrike (Lalage melaschistos)
- Community & Scientific Leadership: Regional Coordinator for Bird Count India | Top eBirder in the Andaman & Nicobar Archipelago | Founder of Tribesmen.in (Est. 2018)
- Languages: English, Hindi, Tamil, Bengali
- Global Agency Affiliations: Lead Tour Naturalist for Rockjumper Birding Tours, Birdtour Asia, BirdQuest.
About G. Shaktivel ("Shakti")
G. Shaktivel (known in the birding community simply as “Shakti”) is one of the Andaman Islands’ premier birding guides and founded Tribesmen.in in 2018 to bridge the gap between rigorous ecological science and world-class guided birding in the Andaman Islands. Born and raised in the archipelago, Shakti holds a Post-Graduate degree in Marine Biology and spent years leading field research for institutional authorities like the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). His scientific work across the remote micro-habitats of the Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep archipelagos gives him an unmatched structural understanding of island biogeography.
Global recognition arrived when Shakti—officially G. Shaktivel historically re-discovered the elusive Pale-footed Bush Warbler (Horornis fortipes) in the Andamans after a 112-year absence of confirmed sightings. With over 1,000 species logged across India and abroad, his field mastery relies heavily on acute audio-identification, tracking subtle contact calls, and mapping seasonal fruiting trees to pinpoint endemic targets like the Andaman Wood-pigeon (Columba palumboides).
A relentless observer during migration windows, Shakti maintains a constant vigil for passage migrants navigating the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. His sharp eye for rarities has yielded first-ever Indian national records for the Javan Pond Heron (Ardeola speciosa) and White-faced Plover (Charadrius dealbatus), alongside first regional Andaman records for the White-browed Crake (Poliolimnas cinereus), Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus), Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola), and many more.
Shakti holds a deep analytical interest in the complex identification of shorebirds (waders) and leaf warblers (Phylloscopus), relying on precise analysis of plumage structure, molt progression, and flight calls. This field focus has rewarded him with the region’s highest tally of rare Asian vagrants, including the Mugimaki Flycatcher (Ficedula mugimaki), Sakhalin Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus borealoides), Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis), and White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus).
Beyond high-count life list guiding, Shakti is an accomplished wildlife photographer who actively coaches clients on camera settings, low-light rainforest exposure, and framing techniques in challenging jungle canopy conditions.
Jabili rao Bird Guide & Endemic Specialist
- Specialities: Forest endemics, Wetland Vagrants, Avian Behavioral Tracking & Expedition Group Guiding
- Historic Field Discoveries: 1st Confirmed Record of Band-bellied Crake (Zapornia paykullii) in India | 1st Confirmed Record of Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana) in the Andaman Islands
- Pioneering Status: First Local Female Birding Guide in the Andaman & Nicobar Archipelago
- Global Agency Affiliations: Lead Local Naturalist for Saiyu Japan, Birding Ecotours and Asian Adventures.
- Recognition:Featured Profile by Bird Count India
- Languages : English, Hindi & Telugu.
About Jabili Rao ("Jabili")
As the first native female birding guide in the Andaman Islands, Jabili Rao (frequently referred to simply as Jabili in client reviews) is widely recognized as one of the archipelago’s most formidable field spotters. Born and raised in South Andaman, her innate understanding of local micro-climates, tidal forest dynamics, and understory micro-habitats makes her an indispensable asset to serious lifers and twitchers looking for high hit-rates on elusive specialties.
Jabili’s razor-sharp field vision and precise call recognition have earned her a place in regional ornithological history, credited with recording the first confirmed national record of the Band-bellied Crake (Zapornia paykullii) in India, as well as the first regional sighting of the Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana).
Because of her meticulous logistics execution and tracking success with tough ground-dwellers like the endemic Andaman Crake (Rallina canningi), Jabili serves as the trusted lead local naturalist for premier global wildlife tour agencies, including Rockjumper, Saiyu Japan, and Asian Adventures. Her field contributions have also been formally recognized by Bird Count India in their featured birder spotlight.
Prodip Sarder Bird Guide, Herping Specialist & Logistics Manager
- Specialties: Island Endemics, Call Identification & Audio Tracking, Herpetology (Reptiles & Amphibians), Seabirds & Pelagic Observation, Island Ground Logistics
- Historic Field Discovery: 1st Confirmed Record of Barau’s Petrel (Pterodroma baraui) for the Andaman & Nicobar Archipelago (recorded in Nicobar waters)
- Operational Role: manages full team expedition logistics, field transport, inter-island ship tickets, and remote island stays.
- Key Target Specialties: Elusive Forest Understory Species, Canopy Endemics, Nocturnal Avifauna & Endemic Herpetofauna
- Languages: English, Hindi, Bengali
About Prodip Sarder ("Prodip")
Hailing from North Andaman, Prodip Sarder (often mentioned as Pradeep or Prodip in client reviews) grew up completely immersed in the dense tropical wilderness of the northern archipelago. This lifelong immersion has endowed him with exceptional field senses—his ability to isolate the faintest contact call or subtle rustle in dense undergrowth makes him one of the most effective bird and wildlife trackers in the region. Beyond his field spotting skills, Prodip serves as the operational backbone of Tribesmen.in, personally managing ground logistics, transport fleets, entry permits, and island transfers for the entire guiding team and international clients across complex archipelagic itineraries.
Prodip’s mastery of vocalizations and micro-habitat mapping allows him to consistently track down cryptic rainforest endemics like the Andaman Crake (Rallina canningi), Andaman Wood-Pigeon (Columba palumboides), and Andaman Serpent Eagle (Spilornis elgini). His keen eye for pelagic resulted in a major ornithological milestone for the region: recording the first confirmed sighting of the Barau’s Petrel (Pterodroma baraui) in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago from Nicobar waters.
A passionate naturalist with dual expertise. During early morning rainforest sessions and dedicated nocturnal field walks, he expert-tracks the archipelago’s unique endemic reptiles and amphibians—including the Andaman Pit Viper (Trimeresurus cantori), and Andaman Giant Gecko (Gekko verreauxii). His ability to seamlessly blend top-tier endemic birding with expert herping adds immense biodiversity value to every expedition he leads.
Aldrich Franklin Bird Guide & Dog Lover
- Specialties: Micro-Habitat Tracking, Meticulous Field Data & Taxonomy, Avian Vocalizations, Nocturnal Endemic Searches
- Academic Credentials: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
- Field Base: Shoal Bay, South Andaman (The Premier Endemic Birding Hotspot of the Archipelago)
- Target Species Field Focus: Andaman Masked Owl (Tyto deroepstorffi), Andaman Crake (Rallina canningi), Andaman Woodpecker (Dryocopus hodgei), Andaman Nightjar (Caprimulgus andamanicus), Andaman Serpent Eagle (Spilornis elgini), Andaman Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia phaea)
- Languages: English, Hindi, Tamil
About Aldrich Franklin ("Franklin")
Based in Shoal Bay—the Andaman archipelago’s premier endemic hotspot—Aldrich Franklin (frequently referred to simply as Franklin or Aldrich in tour reviews and field reports) lives right at the threshold of South Andaman’s primary rainforests. Holding a Doctorate in Pharmacy (PharmD), he brings clinical discipline and biological precision to field ornithology, meticulously tracking roosting territories, subtle plumages, and species vocalizations.
When he isn’t guiding during the off-season, Aldrich’s deep passion for animals continues—he is an ardent dog lover who owns and manages his own pet-grooming store.
His calm, highly patient guiding style shines when tracking skittish ground and canopy targets. Aldrich excels at helping visiting twitchers pinpoint hard-to-find endemics like the Andaman Crake, Andaman Woodpecker, Andaman Masked Owl, and Andaman Nightjar. Combining scientific rigor, daily rainforest familiarity, and genuine animal empathy, he is an essential asset for high-yield birding itineraries.