Nepal may be a small country in size but it’s a bird watchers’ paradise. Packed with national parks and a topography that encompasses the sub-tropical to alpine conditions, Nepal plays host to more than 850 species of birds.
Nepal is a bird watchers’ paradise with national parks and conservation areas making up a large part of its territory. More than 850 species of birds are found in Nepal, and surprisingly a good number of these birds can be spotted in and around the Kathmandu Valley alone. Bird watching is possible in any corner of Nepal, be it in the sweltering plains where Koshi Tappu, Chitwan, and Bardiya are the main sites while in the mountainous region, the Everest and Annapurna regions boast other well-known species of birds. The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in the eastern Terai is the place to be. Bird watchers cannot miss this wonderful reserve which abounds in birds of all kinds. It’s a place where one sees trees packed with birds as if posing for a photograph.
The hills around Kathmandu valley especially Nagarjun, Godavari, and Phulchowki are popular bird-watching areas and the Taudaha Lake on the way to Dakshinkali is ideal for watching migratory waterfowl during the winter months.
In the higher Himalayan regions are found the raptors and birds of prey of which there are numerous species. But Koshi Tappu has better sightings of an incredible variety of both resident and migratory birds that come from as far away as Siberia. Nepal’s national bird is the lophophorous, Impeyen Pheasant locally called Danphe which is found in the Himalayan region. Bird watching trips are organized by most resorts and are accompanied by experienced naturalists.