Nepal is one of the most spectacular wilderness areas to be found anywhere in Asia. It is hard to believe that more than 800 species of birds are known to Nepal. It is more than the combination of bird's species of Canada and USA, which is about 10% of the world's species, 17 species of cuckoo and more than 500 species of the butterflies. Among them, almost 600 are found in the Kathmandu Valley alone. The surrounding hills offer a varied ecology ranging from primary and secondary forests to rhododendron, oak and pine forests. In addition, the wetlands and open fields inside the Valley make up a diverse habitat for many species of birds. The pheasant is Nepal's National Bird.
There are many bird watching spot. The most popular bird watching spot is the Phulchoki hill, the highest peak on the Valley rim situated 20 km southeast of Kathmandu, with some 265 species recorded till date. The birds seen here include babblers, warblers, tits, thrushes, minivets, woodpeckers, eagles and many migrant birds. Godavari, at the foot of Phulchoki hill where the Royal Botanical Garden is situated, records over 100 species of birds including the lesser Racket-tailed drongo, Tibetan siskin and the spotted fork tail.
The Shivapuri Watershed and Wildlife Reserve, situated 11 km to the north of Kathmandu, is another exciting location. Nagarjun Royal Forest, also known as Jamacho or Rani Ban, is situated 5 km from Kathmandu on the way to Kakani from Balaju. It delights bird enthusiasts with Blue magpies, kalij pheasants, Bonelli's eagles, Great Himalayan barbets and other exotic birds. Gokarna forest, 7 km to the northeast of Kathmandu, boasts the speckled Mountain thrush, orange-headed ground-thrush, brown wood owl and the white-bellied yuhina among other colorful varieties.
As for the wetlands in the Valley, the banks of the Manohara River on the way to Bhaktapur, and the Bagmati River, which flows into the Valley from Shivapuri hill and out through Chobhar Gorge, are good places for watching waders and waterfowls. Harboring 40 species of birds mostly dependent on wetlands, Taudaha, a lake on the way to Dakshinkali, attracts flocks of migrant birds.
After the Kathmandu Valley we go to the National parks and wildlife resort and if you are lucky then you also faced the Bengal Tiger, while bird watching. The tigers that do survive in Nepal live in National Parks, such as the Royal Chitwan in the 'Terai', the lowland strip that runs along the south-western edge of this beautiful country.
Royal Chitwan Nationa Park is a fabulous location for birdwatchers with 450 species of birds including the rare openbill stork and the black-hooded oriole. It is a birdwatcher's paradise where you can see more than 100 species in a single day. Royal Bardia National park is same like Chitwan national park provides approx. 250 species of birds but about 400 kms. far west of Kathmandu on Terai region of Nepal. Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is another natural bird conserved area and safari park lies in eastern part of Nepal. The reserve provides the best Adventure of spotting hundreds of rare species of birds with cent percent guarantee and fresh water dolphins. This reserve is of course least explored but also can be combined to the trip to India breaking the journey enjoying its natural tips.
That's why more and more people are making the long trek out to this and to many other remote corners of the world. Birdwatching used to be a hobby pursued by people willing to put up with any discomfort in order to catch sight of an elusive species; but birdwatching has changed. It has, quite literally, taken off. Specialist companies now provide luxury tours for enthusiasts who can now see birds that once they'd only dreamed of through rose-tinted binoculars. The Antarctic, the Galapagos, Russia, Siberia, Kenya, Cape Verde, Hispaniola and Nepal; name your remote region and there are WE to operators tour obligate, enabling you to spot whichever feathered friend it happens to be, from flightless parrots to majestic condors.
The best time to see wildlife is from February until May. Then the monsoons start and the park closes until the end of September. October can be hot; November less so, December and January can be cold.
In the high Himalayan Mountains it is wise to ascend gradually to allow time for your body to adjust to the altitude, which can cause insomnia, headaches, nausea and altitude sickness. Remember to use a powerful sun block as the risk of sunburn is far greater at high altitudes.
Pied and great hornbill, various rare woodpeckers, large woodshrike, black-crested bulbul, golden fronted leafbird, pale-chinned flycatcher, black-napped monarch, various babblers, crimson sunbird, thick-billed flowerpecker, hill mynah, white-rumped shama, various laughing thrushes, Nepal fulvetta, streaked spiderhunter, red-headed trogon, white-browed piculet, long-tailed broadbill, ruby-cheeked sunbird and little spiderhunter are found in most jungle area while woolly-necked and lesser adjutant storks, lesser whistling duck, purple gallinule, bronze-winged jacana are found in lakes.
Some area charges entrance fee for foreign visitors. The tour can be done 2 days 3 nights or more depending on your wish.
