Nepal is the paradise for the bird watchers, where one can find 800 specious of bird almost 10% of the world. The bird only find in Nepal is Spiny Babbler. The most popular spots for the bird watching are: Phulchoki, Godavari, Nagarjun Royal Forest, Gokarna, bank of Bagmati and Manohara river and Tsudaha lake near Kathmandu valley.
Kosi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Royal Chitwan National Park and other National Parks of Nepal are also the territory of endangered birds.
Phulchoki hill is the most popular spot for bird watching in Nepal which is the highest peak on the Valley rim that situated 20 km southeast of Kathmandu, with some 265 species recorded till date. The birds encountered here includes Warblers, Tits, Thrushes, Babblers, Minivets, Woodpeckers, Eagles and many migrant birds. Godavari, where Royal Botanical Garden is situated, at the bottom of the Phulchoki hill, records over 100 species of birds including the lesser Racket-tailed drongo, Tibetan Siskin and the Spotted Forktail.
Within the distance of 11 km in the northern direction of Kathmandu, Shivapuri Watershed and Wildlife Reserve is another exciting location for bird watchers. Rani Ban, also known as Nagarjun Royal Forest or Jamacho, situated 5 km north west of Kathmandu on the way to Kakani from Balaju, is another hot destination which delights bird enthusiasts with Blue magpies, Kalij Pheasants, Bonelli’s eagles, Great Himalayan barbets and other exotic birds. 7 km to the northeast of Kathmandu, Gokarna forest 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.
So grab your binoculars and head for the hills. Good roads lead to all these places and guides are also available.
