By Abinash Chaudhary
Dhangadhi, Sept. 18: The largest flock of small pratincoles, called Pani Gauthali in Nepali, has been found in the Mohana River in Kailali. This is the second time such a large number of small pratincoles have been observed outside a protected area in Nepal.

A large flock of birds has been found in Bhitaria in Kailari Rural Municipality-4. About 3,564 small pratincoles have been spotted on the premises of the Mohana River this year and are the largest recorded flock in Nepal, said ornithologist Hirulal Dangaura.
According to Dangaura, he had recorded 10,553 birds in the same place last year. “Even though a small number of small pratincoles have been recorded this year compared to last year, this is the largest flock noticed in Nepal," he said.

Although it has been speculated that small pratincoles may have been living in the Mohana River for a long time, it was only last year that the bird was recorded living there.
Never before have so many small pratincoles been found in any part of the country," he said.
Before 1990, almost 2,000 birds were sighted in Meghauli, Chitwan. Similarly, 3,467 small pratincoles were recorded in Chitwan in 2012, according to the Bird Conservation Association (BCN).

Similarly, in 2015, more than 3,000 small pratincoles were recorded in the Koshi River area. Similarly, bird conservationist Ram Shahi recorded 1,000 small pratincoles in Bardiya.
For the first time in Nepal, small pratincoles were recorded in the Kathmandu Valley. In the 19th century, a man named Hudgson recorded the species of bird in the Kathmandu Valley.
This bird species, which prefers to live in wetland areas, is found in the Karnali River in Bardiya National Park. Similarly, it is found in the Arun Khola of Nawalpur, Rapti of Chitwan National Park and the Narayani River. Similarly, the bird is also found in the Rapti River of Dang district.

The number of small pratincoles in Nepal is estimated to be between 3,000 to 5,000. Only one per cent of the bird species are found on the banks of the Narayani, Karnali and Koshi rivers. But last year, over 10,000 birds were recorded in the Mohana River at the same time, which is more than the number recorded in across the country, Dangaura said.
According to the locals, the bird even breeds in the Mohana River. However, that has not been confirmed and evidence of breeding has not been found so far. He mentioned that the species of the bird is found more in the summer season and less in the winter season around the Mohana River.

According to the BCN, the bird is on the verge of disappearance due to poaching and hunting as well as problems in the breeding process.
According to ornithologist Dagaura, it is said that the bird is mostly hunted in the inland area of the Mohana River. He said that the destruction of habitat and removal of sand and ballast from the river area has been causing problems to this species.

The species is mainly found in sand and rock on the river banks and lakes.
According to ornithologist Krishna Bhusal, this is a nationally near-threatened bird species and it is a surprise to find a large number of them around the Mohana River.
The species of bird are found in 20 countries including Nepal, India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Malaysia, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.