Bird watching in Nepal
Nepal is a great tour destination for the nature lovers and especially, the bird watchers. The sharp climatic variations from subtropical to alpine within the short area of less than 200 km from North to South harbors 876 species of birds. In fact, it is said that about 10% of the world’s bird population is sheltered in Nepal. Of 35 globally endangered species, 19 threatened species and 15 restricted range species are recorded in Nepal.
Nepal is a paradise to bird watchers. Several trekking trails and National Parks of Nepal has so much to offer everyone, from amateur bird watchers to the professional ornithologists. Enriched flora and fauna has created home for both the kinds of birds, resident and migrants. 27 places in the Nation are considered to be important in terms of bird watching and even in the capital city of Kathmandu, one can escape the urban hustle and choose to enjoy avifauna in greener areas like Pashupatinath, Godavari Botanical Garden, Raniban, Bajrabarahi, Nagarjuna, Taudaha, Gokarna and many more. Other nearby areas could be Pulchowki Mountain Forest and the Shivpuri National Park.
Some of the out-of valley bird lovers’ destinations could be;
- Koshi Tapu Wildlife Reserve
- Chitwan National Park
- Pokhara Valley
- Annapurna Area
- Langtang Region
- Gosaikunda
- Royal Bardia National Park
- Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve
The pleasure of watching birds could be different to each person and describing it is difficult. Egrets, Herons, Kingfisher, Ibis bill, Wood sandpipers, Plovers, the endemic Spring Babbler, Curia, the vivacious Mountain Hawk Eagle, Rufous Bellied Pied Woodpeckers, Black-throated Parrot bill, Laughing Thrush, Crested Serpent Eagle, Pied Fly Catchers, Rupy-throats and the list goes on and on. Naming few isn’t just enough as the biodiversity spectrum is so high.
