Bird watching or birding is the observation and study of birds with the naked eye or through a visual enhancement device like binoculars. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many birds’ species are more readily detected and identified by ear than by eye. Most birders and bird watchers pursue this activity for recreational or social reasons, unlike ornithologists, who are engaged in the formal scientific study of birds.

When we talk about Nepal it is blessed with an array of exceptionally rich bird life with total of over 850 species recorded. A diverse topography and climate has resulted in a variety of habits with in the country, which are home to our 8% of the world’s total bird population. Nepal is a paradise for the bird watchers. From the lowland jungle of the Terai and the Koshi Tappu barrage through dense Rhododendron and Oak forest of the middle hills to the windswept Plateaus of the high Himalayan there is always something to keep one twitching. We have listed some of the places around Kathmandu which is really best for Bird watching.

Godavari: 10 km south-east of Kathmandu city, it has 100species of birds which include lesser racket, trailed drango, Tibetan siskin and spotted fork tail.

Shivpuri Watershed and Wildlife Reserve: Situated 11km north of Kathmandu, it is a repository of birds (entry fees Rs.250)

Phulchowki: Situated 20km south-east of Kathmandu, it has 265 species of birds. This includes babblers, warbles, tits, thrashes, minivets and woodpeckers.

Nagarjun Forest: 5km from Balaju, it has Kalij, Bonelli’s eagles, and other exotic bird’s species.

BIRDS OF LANGTANT VALLEY:
The Langtang Valley trek takes us to an area of Nepal where the influence of trekkers has not been so great. The valley became Nepal's second largest national park in 1976. The park has healthy forests of rhododendron, fir, blue and chir pine and birch. Wildlife in the park includes leopard, musk deer, Himalayan black bear, rhesus and langur monkeys and the endangered red panda. The Bhote Kosi - Trisuli is an important migratory route for birds travelling between India and Tibet. The Langtang valley Gosainkund route may be trekked in either direction. Note also that the route and campsites are always at the discretion of the Group Leader or Sirdar.

Walking hours are only a guide and can vary greatly. It depends entirely on your fitness and ability to walk and of course, on how often you decide to stop and take photographs.

These treks is of special interest to Birders featuring some unusual altitudinal migrants such as Ibis bill and Gould's Short wing, uncommon summer visitors include Pied Ground Trush and high altitude birds such as Snow Partridge, Tibetan Snowcock and Grandala. Specialities which can be easily found throughout the year include Fire-tailed Myzornis and Black-browed Tit. Pheasants, bush-robins, tesias, bush and leaf warblers, wren-babblers and rose finches can also be readily seen. In April and May bird watching time in the mountains above 2750m is often reduced by low cloud in the afternoons.

BIRDS OF CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK:

The Royal Chitwan National Park covers 932 sq. km. and supports some 450 species of birds. Flocks of Common and Demoiselle Cranes occur on passage between March and May and October/November. Along the marshes and small lakes there are Cormorants, Darter, Cinnamon Bittern, Black-crowned Night and Purple Herons, Asian Openbill, Woolly-necked and Lesser Adjutant Storks, Lesser Whistling Duck, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Balloons Ruddy-breasted and Brown Crakes, Purple Gallinule, Bronze-winged Jacana, Painted Snipe and Stork-billed Kingfisher, Chestnut-crowned and Spotted Bush Warblers, Yellow bellied Prinia, Clamorous Reed, dusky and Smoky Warblers, and Red-capped Babbler. Forest species regular seen are Lesser Fishing and Grey headed Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Kalij Pheasant, Emerald Dove, Orange-breasted Green and Pompadour Green Pigeon, Moustached Parakeet, Green-billed Malkoha, Brown Hawk Owl, Crested Treeswift, Pied and Great Hornbills, Streak-throated Green, Rufous, Himalayan Golden-backed and Greater Golden- backed Woodpeckers, Large Woodshrike Rosy Minivet, Black- crested Bulbul, Golden fronted Leaf bird, Pale-chinned Flycatcher, Black-napped Monarch, Puff-throated Babbler, White-browed Scimitar-Babbler, Grey-throated Babbler, Crimson Sunbird, Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Hill Mynah, Black-hooded Oriole, White-rumped Shama, Lesser Necklaced, Greater Necklaced and Rufous-necked Laughing-thrushes, Nepal Fulvetta, Streaked Spider hunter, yellow-bellied Warbler, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Forest Eagle, Tawny Fish Owls, Red-headed Trogon, White-browed Piculet, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Long-tailed Broadbill, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird and Little Spiderhunter.

BIRDS OF FEWA LAKE AND NEARBY FOREST:

The forest along the southern shore of the lake. Apart from the many birds found here, you will also be rewarded with some of the best views of the Annapurna and Machhapuchhare, Pokhara has to offer. Species regularly seen in this forest and along the shore of the lake include Besra, Red-thighed Falconet, Pallid and Pied Harriers, Eurasian Griffon, Red-headed and Eurasian Black Vultures, Kalij Pheasant, Ducks, Gulls, Terns, Waders, Bulbul, Black-backed Forktail, Puff-throated Babbler, White-crested, Lesser Necklaced and Rufous-chinned Laughing Thrushes, Red-billed Leiothrix, Minivets, Crimson Sunbird, Maroon Oriole, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Red-billed and Green Magpies, Long-tailed Mountain Thrush, Chestnut-headed and Grey-bellied Tesias, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Small and Rufous-bellied Niltavas and Snowy-brown Flycatcher, Long-tailed Broadbill, Pale Blue Flycatcher, White-tailed Robin, Spiny Babbler, White-browed Scimitar-Babbler, Striated Munia, Lesser Whitethroat and Thick-billed Warbler.

BIRDS OF KOSHI TAPPU:

One of the best times to visit this site is in February and early March when the main wildfowl passage takes place. In mid February a peak over of over 50,000 ducks, mainly Northern pintail have been estimated. A total of 25 wildfowl species have been recorded including regular sightings of Bar-headed Goose, Comb Duck, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Falcated Duck, Red-Crested Pochard. Wader passage also takes place during this period although it also extends into mid May. Pacific Golden Plover, Temmincks Stint, Pintail Snipe and Marsh Sandpiper occur annually. In additions small numbers of gull and teams can be seen both wintering and on passage. These include Great Black-headed and Brown-headed Gulls, Gull-billed, Caspian and Whiskered Terms. It is also a best site to watch for birds of prey includes Brahminy Kite, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Eurasian Black Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Pallid and Pied Harriers, Greater-spotted, Steppe and Imperial Eagles, Peregrine and Red-naked Falcon.

Residents: Rufous-bellied Eagle (rare), Red-thighed Falconet, Red Jungle Fowl, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Mustached Parakeet, Green-billed Malkoha, Crested Tree Swift Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Blue-eared Barbet, Rufous and Himalayan Golden-backed Woodpecker Common and Large Woodshrikes, Golden-fronted Leafbird, White-rumped Shama, Pale-chinned Flycatcher, Black-napped Monarch, Abbott's Babbler, Thick-billed and Pale-billed, Scarlet-backed Flowepeckers, Black-hooded Oriole, White-bellied and Bronzed and Greater-racquet Drongos, Ashy Woodswallow and Hill Mynah.