Bird Conservation Nepal organized the “Welcome to the Birds”
(WTTB) event on 11 January at Taudaha. The event was organized with the
coordination with the local New Taudaha Club and Shree Karkotak Nagraja Nagrani
Vyasthapan Samaj. The objective of the event was to raise the awareness on
migratory birds and conserving its habitats and to start the mid-winter
waterfowl census which starts from 11 January across Asia.
Taudaha lake is
around 8 km southwest from Kathmandu. As
many as 120 bird species are recorded in Taudaha and many of them are winter
visitor wetland dependent birds which breeds in Mangolia, Tibet-China, Siberia
and north east European countries. Surrounding of lake is equally important for
summer visitor birds like Eurasian Cuckoo, Pied Thrush and Asian Paradise
Flycatcher, they winters in South India, Srilanka and in middle east.
Around eighty participants including students, local people,
bird lovers and BCN members actively participated in the event. The event
started at 9.30 am with presentation on the introduction of BCN and
presentation on the migratory birds. After the presentation the bird watching
program was done. A documentary film “Winged Migration was also shown during
the event. The posters of birds, BCN quarterly newsletters were distributed to
the local club and students. Few copies of the flex poster with the information
on migratory birds and other local birds found in the Taudha was also given to
the club for display in the lake for the information to the visitors. Small
amount of donation as Char lai Char was also collected to support BCN in conservation
initiatives. The event was successful in creating awareness on migratory birds
and conserving its habitat. The wetland dependent birds recorded on the event
are as following:.
SN, COMMON NAME,
SCIENTIC NAME, NUMBER
1, White-throated Kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis, 1
2, Bar-headed Goose, Anser indicus, 1
3, Ruddy Shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea, 2
4, Common Teal, Anas crecca, 160
5, Gadwall, Anas strepera, 22
6, Eurasian Wigeon, Anas penelope, 6
7, Mallard, Anas plytyrhynchos, 18
8, Common Coot, Fulica atra, 7
9, Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo, 21
10, Little Egret, Egretta Garzetta, 2
11, Indian Pond Heron, Ardeola grayii, 2
13, Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea, 1
14, White Wagtail, Motacilla alba, 2