By Chandani Acharya, Kailali, Dec. 25: At a time when the nation is hit hard by COVID-19 and freezing cold, Ghodaghodi lake premises of Kailali district has become pleasant to visit due to the arrival of winter migratory birds.

Full of unique biodiversity, the lake has been protected under the Ramsar Convention since 2003.  

With the beginning of the winter season, waterbird species from Siberia start to visit lake areas in Nepal to avoid biting cold at their natural habitat in the region near the North Pole.

Bird specialist Hirulal Dagaura said that this year 64 species of migratory birds had arrived in the wetlands of Ghodaghodi Lake.

Bird species like mallard, ruddy she ducks, gadwall, Eurasian teal, greenshank, thrushes, flycatcher, booted eagle, and other bird species come to Nepal from abroad in the winter season.

'Those guest birds spend winter in lake sites and return their native land with the beginning of summer around April every year,' said ornithologist Dagaura.

According to him, 342 species of birds have been recorded recently around the lake area. Winter guest birds start to visit wetlands areas of Nepal from the month of October.

Surrounded by forests and with its unique shape like that of five fingers, Ghodaghodi lake has become a well-known tourist hub. Though only a few tourists have visited the lake area this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the attraction has been added to its pleasant environment with the mass of guest birds.

'Environment of lake premises is so pleasant and luring at this time but there are no tourists unlike last year' a local of Kailali, Padam Dhakal, said.  According to him, in these days in the past, the Ghodaghodi area would remain full of tourists who came here for visits and picnic purposes, but now due to fear of COVID-19, there are almost no tourists.