Bird Watching Tour in Nepal

About Trip -

Bird Watching Tour in Nepal with Pink Mountain Treks and Expedition will cover major bird watching sites in Nepal. Bird Watching Tour in Nepal Starting from Kathmandu, the tour reaches Bardia National Park of mid-Western part of Nepal and it drives through plains of Terai to Chitwan National Park in Mid Nepal and to Koshi Tappu in the East of Nepal. It is relaxed and slow paced tours offering diverse species of bird sighting, as well as various language speaking groups of people and their cultures enroute. The drive from Bardia to Chitwan grants interesting sightings of Vultures in Dang and in Nawal Parasi to the ethnic Tharu village of Nepal. Then from Chitwan to Koshi, too, offers beautiful birds sighting by the bank of Rapti River enroute. The tours are best during the winter. Apart from outlined itinerary, we tailor your birding tours as per the sites of your interests. Some have chosen Bardia National park, while the others choose to go for Chitwan or Koshi Tappu. The following are the major birding tour sites recommended by Nepal Birding Holidays:

Chitwan National Park

The Chitwan valley consists of tropical and subtropical forests. Sal forests cover 70 percent of the park. Sal leaves are used locally for plates in festivals and religious offerings. Grasslands cover 20 percent of the park. There are more than 50 different types of grasses, including the elephant grass.

The Chitwan National Park is home of more than 50 mammal species, over 567 birds, and 55 amphibians and reptiles. The endangered fauna found in the park are: One-horned Rhinoceros, Gaur. Royal Bengal Tiger, Wild Elephant, Antelopes, Pangolin, Golden Monitor Lizard, Python. The Park has four natural lakes, ponds and Rapti River inhabiting various species of birds such as Purple Swamphen, Darter, Heron, Black Stork. Its grassland is popular habitat for species such as Lesser and Bengal Floricans, as the forest is habitat for Giant Hornbill, Peacock, Owls, Eagles, Babblers, Warblers, Cuckoos, Orioles, woodpeckers.   

The park has a range of climatic seasons each offering a unique experience. October through February with average temperatures of 25oC, offer an enjoyable climate. From March to June temperatures can reach as high as 43oC, the hot humid days give way to the monsoon season that typically lasts from late June until September, Rivers become flooded and roads are impossible.

In late January, local villagers are allowed to cut thatch grasses to meet their needs, which offer a better viewing of wildlife to visitors. September – November, February and April, migratory birds join the residential birds and create spectacular bird watching opportunities. While the monsoon rains bring lush vegetation, most trees flower in late winter. The palash tree, known as the "flame of the forest' and silk cotton tree have spectacular crimson flowers that can be seen from a distance.

Bardia National Park

Bardia National park is the largest national park in the lowland Terai. Covering an area of 968 sq.km, the park holds more than 350 species of birds. The park, situated in Nepal's Western Terai, was established to protect representative ecosystems and conserve tiger and its prey species. Initially, a small area was gazetted as the Karnali Wildlife Reserve in 1976. In 1997, an area of 327 km2 surrounding the park was declared as a buffer zone, which consists of forests and private lands. The park and local communities jointly manage the buffer zone which is popular for residential bird Slaty Woodpeckers. Karnali River is the suitable home for Gangetic dolphin and Black Storks, Darters, Pratincols, Lesser Florican. And two majors lakes are situated 1hr drive from the park inhabits Grey Headed and Lesser Fish Eagles, Osprey, Purple Heron, Darters, Swamphen and Coot etc. The park is also home to endangered animals such as the Royal Bengal tiger, wild elephant, Greater one-horned rhinoceros, swamp deer, and black buck.

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve lies on the floodplains of the Sapta Koshi River in the south-eastern Terai. The reserve was gazetted in 1976 to preserve habitat for the only remaining population of Wild buffalo, Arna (Bubalus arnee). The 176 sq. km. reserve is Nepal's smallest wildlife reserve. The eastern and western embankments of the Sapta Koshi River define the area. In 1987, Koshi Tappu was declared a Ramsar site, a wetland of international significance. Government of Nepal has declared the buffer zone (173.5 sq. km) surrounding the reserve in 2004.

The vegetation is mainly composed of tall grasslands. There are also small patches of Accacia and Sisso forest and deciduous mixed Riverine forest. The reserve accommodates varieties of wildlife. The last surviving population of Wild buffalo is found here. The estimated population of wild buffalo is around 159 individuals is dwindling. They are distinguished from domestic buffalo by their much bigger horns. The reserve is also home to around 20 other animal species such as Hog deer , Wild boar , Spotted deer, Blue bull, and Rock Python.

Around 441 species of birds-many seen now here else in Nepal (14 endemic species)- have been recorded, including 20 duck species , 2 Ibis species, white tailed stonechat ,  Striated marsh warbler, 30 shore birds, 114 water birds, and the endangered swamp partridge and Bengal florican. The Koshi River is home to 80 species of fish. The endangered Gharial crocodile and Gangetic dolphin have been recorded in the river as well.