01
5 Popular Places For Birding In Nepal
More than 850 species of birds have been recorded in Nepal, making it one of the richest bird habitats in the world. In Nepal, a total of 10% of species of birds inhabit seven vegetation zones such as tropical, subtropical, lower-temperate, temperate, subalpine, alpine, and arctic. Due to biodiversity including the Himalayan region, Nepal has become one of the most popular destinations for birding holidays destinations in the globe.
Nepal occupies a unique geographical variation that is a great habitat for varieties of birds. The rare species of birds from Himalayan griffon, Himalayan Monal, Cheer Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan are found in the hidden valley. The world's most popular Bengal florican, Sarus carus crane are inhabitant in the plain Terai region of Nepal.
Nepal’s diversity in culture, scenery, and wildlife perfectly complements the friendliness of its people. From the magnificent Himalayas to the subtropical lowlands, the visitors are given the warmest welcome. The country’s wetlands, 12 national parks, 8 conservation areas, a wildlife reserve center, six conservation areas, lakes, rivers, mountains, and various Ramsar sites offer first-class bird watching beneath the shadow of the mighty Himalayas and in the shade of the lush green tropical forest.
Out of them, there are 12 national parks, a wildlife reserve, six conservation areas, and various Ramsar sites that are most popular with bird-watchers in Nepal.
1.Chitwan National Park
2. Koshi Tappu
3. Bardiya National Park
4. Shuklaphanta National Park
5. Shivapuri Nationalpark (Nagarjun, Godawari, and Taudaha)
Chitwan National Park
Chitwan National Park is a magnet for avid bird watchers who can observe the varieties of resident and migrant birds here. Bird watching is also one of the major attractions of Sauraha.
Many tourists arrive at Chitwan and go around Sauraha and Chitwan National Park with the sole intent of watching birds. The Chitwan National park area is one of the best places in the world to observe and study various rare bird species. In addition to resident birds, many migrating birds arrive at Sauraha in the winter from as far as Siberia, as well as other places thousands of miles away. A total of 549 bird species have been recorded in the parking area of Chitwan National Park. In India's oldest national park, there are several species of birds such as the Bengal Florican, Gray-crowned Prinia, Prinia Cinerocapilla, and Slender-billed Babbler Turdoides longirostris. According to data from ornithologist Basu Birdari, he estimates that about four percent of the total number of tourists visit Chitwan National Park. Each year, the national park attracts about 20,000 tourists, both domestic and international. There are huge numbers of bird migrants especially from Mongolia, the Southern part of Russia, and central Asia.
Koshi Tappu
Koshi Tappu wildlife conservation is another popular bird-watching destination in Nepal. Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is situated in the eastern Terai, a region that is known for its Bar-headed Goose, Greater and Lesser Adjutant, and Falcated Duck, among others. They make different camps for bird watching out of all the Koshi riverside, Nandan pond and Kamaldaha pond are the popular camps for bird watching in Koshi Tappu. The loss of habitat in the reserve has led to a decrease in the number of species, particularly after the Koshi river. Increasing habitat loss has resulted in a declining number of birds, so it is essential to preserve and create new wetlands for the Koshi Tappu wildlife reserve community. A Koshi Tappu bird-watching tour may be the best option for promoting tourism in eastern Nepal.
Bardiya National Park
Apart from wildlife tours, Bardiya is a great destination for bird watchers and researchers. Bardiya is the popular destination for Bengal Tiger and also has over 542 types of birds. The flyover is accompanied by a variety of migratory birds mainly from Siberia. The popular Karnali river is the home to the waterfowl. The Bardiya National Park is home to some species of birds unique to the region. You can enjoy birdwatching holidays in this park. Bengal Florican, an endangered bird species, is a popular attraction at the Bardiya National Park. It is also home to more than half of Nepal's endangered birds. Birds like crows, mynas, doves, vultures, crane, kingfisher, sparrow, parrot, cuckoo, kite, hummingbird, woodpecker, egrets, and others are the common birds in Bardiya National Park. Karnali river banks, Bardiya Lake, Satkhalauwa Lake, and the buffer zone of the Babai River are the main places for birdwatching in this protected area. If you are a nature lover and keen to learn about the specific birds of Nepal, Bardiya could be up on your bucket list.
Shuklaphanta National Park
Shuklaphanta National Park is the home to 450 species of birds including some of the endangered birds. The Lesser Adjutant, Bengal Florican, white-rumped vulture, Sarus Crane, and Finn’s weaver are rare birds of this national park. The bird organization of the Shuklaphanta National Park organized bird watching activities every Saturday which is a major factor to generate nature guides and promote birding in this region. Younger-aged people are garnering more interest in the field and want to join this event. All of these activities are helping to promote Shuklaphanta National Park as a birdwatching tour destination. The number 450 is huge, so birdwatching enthusiasts have a lot to see and explore here.
Around Kathmandu Valley and Shivapuri National Park
The Kathmandu valley is the center for travelers from all over the world for multiple activities. Travelers visiting Nepal aren’t only interested in adventure activities like trekking but are also interested in the fauna around the Kathmandu valley. There are multiple organizations that organize birding activities for the locals, tour guides, and nature photographers. Many travel companies have special packages for birdwatching around the Kathmandu valley. According to the Bird census 2021, Shivapuri is home to 320 species of birds. This data might have more species enlisted in a newer survey. The Shivapuri National Park and the areas around Kathmandu valley such as the Nagarjun, Godawari, Taudaha are popular destinations for birdwatching tours. The Spiny babbler, great cormorant, common coot, minivets. Woodpeckers, flycatchers, long-tailed broadbill, and racket-tailed drongo are the common birds around the Kathmandu valley.
The majority of the travelers travel to Nepal for adventure activities, for a couple of years. Nepal has become a prime destination for bird watching and nature photography. National parks, conservation areas, wildlife preserve centers, and wetlands areas make Nepal a paradise for nature lovers.
Today, there are large numbers of tourists who come to Nepal for wildlife safaris and bird watching. The locations for the birds also are the best for other tourism activities so travelers visiting those destinations can experience multiple activities on the same trip. A number of tourism entrepreneurs are sincerely working to preserve endangered birds to promote ecotourism. The Vulture Restaurant in Chitwan is a great example that attracts thousands of domestic and international travelers.
Let's bounce back the ecotourism through Birding tour after covid- 19.
