Dhangadhi wetlands flocked by migratory birds

By Abinash Chaudhary,Dhangadhi, Jan. 7: The movement of winter visitor birds has increased in the wetlands area of ​​Kailali, including the Ghodaghodi Bird Sanctuary, which is also a Ramsar site.

Travelling thousands of kilometres, the winter visitors have landed here. Different species of duck families from Siberia have come to Kailali to spend the winter.

Different species of birds come to Nepal crossing a distance of more than 6,000 miles to escape extreme winters in the northern regions including Siberia. Hirulal Dangaura, an ornithologist, said that a number of birds including common coot (Marul), Gadwall (Kharkhare), Mallard (Hariyo Tauke), and Eurasian Wigeon (Sindhure) have arrived in different lakes along the Ghodaghodi Lake.

However, these water birds come here by resting in different places. Interestingly, the Great cormorants (Thulo Jalewa) that breed in China and Tibet spend the whole winter in the wetlands here.

It is said that there are winter visitor birds from various wetlands in the lower coastal area of ​​Karnali including Nakroad, Mahadev, Laukaha-Bhaukaha, Chiraiya, Koili, Soniyan-Rupiyan, Jamrehat along with Ghodhaghodi. "These birds stay here for six months,” Dangaura said. Birds that arrived here until the end of October return to where they came from in March."

Water birds are counted every year along with the visitor birds coming to the wetlands in Kanchanpur and Kailali. It is said that the winter bird count will be held from January 7 to 22.Dangaura informed that winter visitor birds and water birds are counted from the main wetlands of both districts to the lower coastal area of ​​Karnali River.

It is said that 496 species of birds are found in Kailali alone. Out of which, endangered birds such as Great Slaty Woodpecker (Raj Lahanche), white-rumped vultures (Dangar Giddha), and Eagle (Garuda) are also found here. Similarly, 360 species of birds can be found in Ghodaghodi, the first bird sanctuary in Nepal. Statistics show that most bird species are found in Kailali.

To protect the birds found in Ghodaghodi wetlands, the Sudhurpashim Provincial government declared Ghodghodi the first bird sanctuary of Nepal. This year, Nepal Owl Festival is also going to be held to spread more awareness about conservation in the wetland area. 

This time, Friends of Nature, an organisation active in conservation, is going to organise the Owl festival at Maghi Homestay in Ghodaghodi, Kailali.

It is said that the festival will be held for two days on February 3 and 4. Earlier, this festival was held in Dhading, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Gorkha, Kaski, Kapilvastu, Dolakha, Khotang and Syangja districts.

Recently, the number of bird species has been increasing in Kailali. However, conservation challenges remain due to the destruction of habitats, erosion of wetlands, poaching of birds and increasing use of pesticides in agriculture.

Conservationists said that the exploitation is affecting the natural conditions of the wetlands, including the natural ponds. Conservationist Bhojraj  Dhungana said that it is necessary to use and manage the natural and ecological system of the lake without  spoiling it.