Migratory birds start coming in Chitwan

CHITWAN: Migratory birds from home and foreign countries have started flocking to the Chitwan National Park and surroundings in Chitwan district.

The migration of such birds including ducks, hawks and kites takes place every year to avoid cold. President of the Bird Education Society Chitwan Tikaram Giri said such birds have been spotted on the river banks and at water bodies. According to him, 12 to 15 species of ducks from foreign countries have been seen in the Narayani and Rapti rivers, and Riukhola.

Saying that the birds have started coming in from August, he said many such migratory birds had arrived, and some others would reach by end-October. Even from the hilly areas of Nepal, birds come to Chitwan to avoid cold, he said.

Ornithologist Hem Sagar Baral said birds come to Nepal from countries including Siberia, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and China.  Birds like various species of duck like Chakhewa, Suiropuchhre, Malak, Khadakhade, Bijula and Gairi are among the migratory birds that visit Nepal to avoid cold, he said. “It is found that birds migrate to the southern area from northern one to avoid cold.”

According to him, 100 of 150 species of birds that come to Nepal as visitors have arrived in Nepal this season so far. These birds would return from the south to the north after six months during the time of hatching, he said. These birds visit Nepal as during winter, the days are shorter and nights are longer in the north pole of the earth, and there is short time for them to graze, he said.

Particularly, birds living in wetlands, grasslands, forests and farmlands visit Nepal during winter, it has been said. There are 892 species of birds across Nepal with 650 species in Chitwan alone.

Rapti, Narayani and Riu rivers that run through the CNP and wetlands in the surroundings are good habitats for waterbirds while the CNP, buffer zones, parks and community forests are considered good areas for wandering.