Nationwide Water Bird Census Underway to Gauge Mid-Winter Population Health
A comprehensive nationwide water bird census commenced this past Saturday, targeting the country’s myriad lakes, rivers, and wetland ecosystems. This annual undertaking is a critical initiative designed to evaluate the mid-winter status of aquatic bird populations, which are facing increasing threats from habitat degradation and the escalating impacts of climate change. The data gathered will be instrumental in tracking population trends, understanding distribution patterns, identifying emerging risks, and fostering greater community involvement in vital conservation efforts.
“This census is crucial to understand what is happening to birds that depend on wetlands,” stated senior ornithologist Hem Sagar Baral. “Counts are being carried out across the country according to local feasibility.”
The current census is scheduled to run from January 3rd to January 18th. It is being meticulously coordinated by Wetlands International in close collaboration with Bird Conservation Nepal, with essential support provided by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. A dedicated team of over 400 participants, comprising experienced ornithologists, knowledgeable nature guides, skilled wildlife photographers, and rigorously trained volunteers, are actively engaged in the count across the nation.
Laxman Paudel, the national coordinator for the water bird census at Wetlands International, elaborated on the scope of the operation. “Surveys are being conducted at over 80 sites within 18 major wetland complexes,” he explained. These sites span a vast geographical range, from the expansive Koshi Tappu in the east to the western reaches of Shuklaphanta, and from the lowland Jagadishpur lake to the high-altitude Rara in the Himalayas. “Each site has a designated coordinator who manages the count based on local conditions,” Paudel added.
In the Chitwan district, for instance, the area has been strategically divided into eastern, western, and central sectors. Counts within these blocks are scheduled for January 8th and 9th, according to Manish Limbu, the coordinator for central Chitwan. The popular tourist destination of Pokhara will host counts at 11 distinct locations. Furthermore, surveys are simultaneously in progress at other significant sites, including Koshi Tappu, Dhanushadham, Hetauda, Nawalparasi, and various wetlands along the Lumbini region and the Rapti River in Dang.
The Kathmandu Valley has also seen early activity, with counts beginning on Saturday along the Bagmati and Manohara rivers, as well as at the vital Taudaha wetland. “The survey started from Chobhar to Taudaha this morning [Saturday],” confirmed Jayanath Bhandari, a coordinator with Bird Conservation Nepal. Counts along the Manohara River are slated for January 8th and 9th.
Ornithologist Krishna Prasad Bhusal highlighted the dual purpose of the census, emphasizing its role in raising local awareness. “Birds that once arrived here in thousands from Siberia are no longer seen in Taudaha,” he observed with concern. Bhusal recalled that the globally threatened pink-headed duck was once a recorded visitor to the area, alongside several other rare migratory species that have since vanished from these locales.
The practice of counting water birds in various water bodies and wetlands takes place annually in January. Nepal’s commitment to this conservation initiative dates back to its first water bird count in 1967, with consistent annual counts being conducted since 1987. Bird conservationists underscore the importance of these regular counts in informing and shaping effective policies and conservation programs for avian species.
Nepal is a significant destination for migratory birds, welcoming approximately 150 species of winter migratory birds each year, with over 100 of these being water species. Additionally, around 60 summer migratory bird species grace the country’s habitats annually. Ornithologists explain that these aquatic birds undertake long journeys, migrating to Nepal’s diverse lakes, rivers, and wetlands from regions such as Siberia, China, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and the Korean Peninsula. They typically arrive with the onset of winter and remain until February.
Collectively, Nepal is recognized as a haven for a remarkable biodiversity of avian life, with a total of 903 bird species recorded within its borders, including several that are critically endangered. The ongoing census plays a vital role in ensuring these numbers remain robust and in understanding the challenges faced by these magnificent creatures.
