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