Bird Watching in Nepal

Bird watching in Nepal 

Nepal is a country with one of the high altitude variations in the world. The lowest altitude is about 60 meters from sea level to the highest is the summit of Mount Everest, 8848m. The great variation of altitude has resulted in great climatic and biological diversity. We can find climatic conditions from very cold to tropical hot in a width of just 160 km. Nepal has a wide range of flora and fauna and many species are the endemic from here. This is one of the best places for birding in the whole world. The whopping 865  species (9% of the world's total bird species) makes Nepal a paradise for birding. The concentration of birds is high in spite of the small territory because there are different kinds of dwelling places for birds here such as wetlands, lakes, tropical and subtropical forests, coniferous and Himalayan valleys.

• Regarding to the bird watching trip we have several famous places :

• Around Kathmandu Valley:

Within the Kathmandu valley alone, over 500 species of birds have been recorded. The surrounding hills offer a varied ecology ranging from primary and secondary forests to rhododendron, oak and pine forests. In addition, the wetlands and open fields inside the valley make up a diverse habitat for many species of birds.

• Phulchoki hill:

The most popular bird watching spot is the Phulchoki hill, the highest peak on the Valley rim situated 20 km South East of Kathmandu, with some 265 species recorded to date. The birds seen here included babblers, warblers, tits, thrushes, minivets, woodpeckers, eagles and many migrant birds. Godavari, at the foot of Phulchoki hill where the Royal Botanical Garden is situated, records over 100 species of birds including the lesser racket-tailed drongo, Tibetan siskin and the spotted forktail.

• Shivapuri National Park  :

Situated 11km to the North of Kathmandu, is another very good location. Nagarjun Royal Forest on Jamacho hill is situated 5 km from Kathmandu on the way to Kakani from Balaju. It is a renowned sight for bird enthusiasts with blue magpies, kalij pheasants, Bonelli’s eagles, great Himalayan barbets amongst the many species found here.

• The Valley Wetlands

The wetlands in the valley, the banks of the Manohara river on the way to Bhaktapur, and the Bagmati river, which flows into the Valley from Shivapuri hill and out through Chobhar Gorge, are good places for watching waders and waterfowls. Harbouring 40 species of birds mostly dependent on wetlands, Taudaha, a lake on the way to Dakshinkali, attracts flocks of migrant birds.

• Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve: 

As well as other kinds of fauna, the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is renowned for being one of the best locations for birding. Still within Nepal’s sub-tropical Terai belt, this is the smallest (175 sq km) and Easternmost reserve in Nepal, just to the North East of the convergence of the Sapt Koshi and Trijuga Khola rivers. Its situation on the Sapt Koshi floodplain means that the environment of this reserve varies dramatically according to the seasons. During the Monsoon (May to September) the flow becomes torrential and covers most of the floodplain, while during the dry seasons, many flat, sandy islands are exposed. The habitat is a combination of scrub grassland and deciduous riverine forest, with over 280 species of birds recorded so far, including 20 species of duck, ibises, storks, swamp partridges (Francolinus gularis), herons, egrets, Bengal florican (Eupodotis Bengalensis), and many other exotic and migratory waterfowl not found elsewhere in Nepal.

• Chitwan National Park :

Is approximately five hours by road from Kathmandu or a 35 minute flight situated in the Terai region. It is renowned for its array of birds, with over 255 species recorded. There are many species of parakeets. Other birds include Blue-Throat (thrush), Long-tailed Nightjar, Indian Peafowl, Great Barbet, red-billed blue magpie and Tickell’s red-breasted blue flycatcher. A two night/three day package, staying at a lodge within the park, is an ideal way to combine bird watching with other pursuits.

• Bardia National park :

Bardia is also a popular destination for bird watching situated in the far West of Nepal it is an area of extensive jungle which is covered by sal forest riverine and grassland. A boat ride on the slow moving expanse of the Karnali River provides plenty of opportunities to view a vast variety of birds including Ruddy Shelduck, darters , brahmini kites, brown headed gulls, cormorants, oriental pied hornbills, night heron & purple heron, cinnamon bitterns, orioles and majestic peacocks.

• Trekking Regions:  

Annapurna Region 

Everest Region 

Langtang Region 

• The Annapurna Conservation Area 

To set the scene a little, the Annapurna region is a Conservation Area is the largest and most protected region in the World (ACA), covering around 2600 sq km towards the North-central region of Nepal. The Kali Gandaki river runs North to South through this region, through the world’s deepest gorge, some 6000m below the high Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs, seven of these peaks are over 7000m, the highest (Annapurna I) at 8091 m.

A few facts and figures above, but as you can imagine, the ACA supports a remarkable but delicate biodiversity, with 441 recorded species of birds (so far), including the only endemic species of Nepal, the spiny babbler (Turdoides Nipalensis). The bird habitat ranges from the subtropical lowlands towards Pokhara in the south of ACA to dry subalpine conditions above the tree-line towards the North.

The Kali Gandaki valley is also a major migration pathway in the autumn, when 40 species, including demoiselle cranes (Anthropoides Virgo), can be seen around Jomsom and Tukuche. Happily this coincides with one of the two trekking seasons (Spring and Autumn).

Migrating West about this time further South around Kande , Lumle  and Dhampus are about 20 identified species of eagle and other birds of prey. The most commonly observed are:lammergeier gypaetus barbatus (Bearded Vulture), known as the giddha in Nepal, it frequently occurs at 4100m.and the golden eagle Aquila Chrysaetos, known as baaj in Nepal.

There are six Himalayan pheasants to be found in ACA: Himalayan The Monal Lophophorus impejanus satyra Tragopan Tragopan satyra (Crimson Horned Pheasant) Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus Koklass Pheasant Pucrasia macrolopha Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichii Kalij Pheasant Lophura leucomelanos, are the most commonly occurring of Nepali pheasants.