Birdwatching in Himalaya

 Nepal ...

      ... is renowed for its high diversity of bird species, spectacular mountains and rich culture. In Nepal you can enjoy birdwatching in one most beautiful places on Earth.

      In the first time I visit the country in 2007, the Nature give-me the chance to see one Aquila crysaetus the Golden Eagle, in Nature, above 4400 m, close of dingboche in one hill above, between the Ama Dablan and Lothse ( 5 most higher mountain in the world) in the Khumbu valey, this Eagle fly without think about the tomorrow, this presence change my way to see wildlife forever.

     

  Geographical Setting

        Most of Nepal lies in the central of Himalayas and includes eight of the hichest peaks in the world, each over 8000m. Nepal is surronded by the world's two most populous countries, India and China, but is one smallest nations. The contry covers an area of 147,181 km2, litle more than england and wales combined, and averages about 870 km from esast to west (Grimmett, R. et al. 2000).

       Nepal has more contrasts of landscape and culture tham in most othr contries many times its size. There is a norrow strip of lowlands, known as the terai in the south that differs sharply from rugged terrain of the rest of the contry. Slightly higher up lies the dry bhabar zone that extends to about 300m. Beyond bhabar are the first Himalayan Foot hills Known as the Siwalik hills, rising to 1220m. To the north lies the Mahabharat lekh climbing to 2740 m. Between these two ranges are the dun valleys orinner terai. Until the terai and inner terai were malaria-ridden jungle and rich in wildlife, but today the hold almost all of Nepal's Industry and highly cultivated. Beyond the Mahabharat Lekh lies a broad complex of midland hills and valleys including the Kathmandu Valley, the tradicional heartland of Nepal. North of midland is Himalaya range, include Everest 8848m, the top of the World, which is no more than 160 km  as the crow flies from terai at 75m  above sea level.

     

Climate

       Nepal has extremes of climate varying from tropical in the lowlands to artic in the high peaks. The maximum reach to 37°C in chiwan between April early June. In sharp contrast, maximum temperatures in Khumbu at Nanche Bazar 3400m  (Everest region) vary from 11 to 15°C between April and June.

       Nepal's climates dominated by the monsoon of south Asia. About 90% of the rain falls between June and september.

Main Habitats and Bird species

       The vegetation is classified following J.F. Dobremez (1976) Le Nepal Ecologie et biogéographie.

        Nepal's Bird Habitats can be roughly divided into forest, scrub, alpine habitats, wetlands, grasslands, agricultural land and around human habitation.

        Has a very rich diversity of forest types. Forests and bushes hold high proportion of 77% of Nepal's breeding birds. Nepal's avifauna is highly diverse considering the size of the conutry. Atotal 852 species has been recorded, including about 600 that probaly breed or have bred.

Birdwatching Areas

       Royal Chitwan National Park
       Phulchowki Mountain (2760m)
       Sheopuri Wilslife reserve (2730m)
       Kosi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and Kosi Barrage
       Royal Bardia National Park
       Trekking in Langtang National Park - Gosainkund and Langtang Valley
       Annapurna Conservation Area
       Arum e Barun Valleys
       And more

       The birdwatching by recording observations that they make, can play a valuable role by increasing the knowledge of the contry's birds and helping to conserve them. Learn and discover about the breeding behaviour of many of Nepal's Birds.
      

In next time we go talk about Bird Conservation on Himalaya