13 new species of birds recorded in Gulmi

By Ramesh Vishwakarma,Gulmi, Feb. 22: Some 13 new species of birds have been recorded in Gulmi’s Resunga and Madane Forest Conservation areas.

Bharat Panthi, project officer of Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) Gulmi, informed that 13 species of new birds were recorded during a recent bird survey in the district.

Five species of new birds have been found in the Resunga Forest Conservation Area, which is spread over an area of 19,281.65 hectares. 

The species of birds recorded in Resunga include Kotero Munia (Scaly-breasted Munia), Tilhari Chara (Ibisbill), Chakhewa-chkhevi (Ruddy shelduck), Chanchle Sudsudia (Common Sandpiper) and Tuinsi Suga (Plum-headed parakeet).

Eight species of new birds have been recorded in the Madane Forest area which is spread over an area of 13,761 hectares. 

Those species of birds found in the forest include Himali Malewa (Snow Pigeon), Kharlahanche (Eurasian Wryneck), Lamo Thude Chanchar (Long-billed Thrush), Laghu Bagedi (Little Bunting), Kanthe Suga (Rose-ringed Parakeet), Khole Tiktike (White-browed Wagtail), Fusro Tiktike (Grey Wagtail) and Thulo Chirbire Matikore (Crested Kingfisher). 

The number of birds is increasing here every year.

According to a recent survey, there are 258 species of birds in Resunga and 272 species in Madane. 

There are 218 species of common birds in both areas. 

So far there are 312 species of birds in this district.

In the previous survey in Resunga and Madane area, there were 305 species of birds, which is 35 per cent of the country’s total 892 bird species, according to BCN Gulmi.

Gulmi district has six rare species of birds in the world. Species like Chir (Cheer Pheasant), Ranamatta Mahachil (Eastern Imperial Eagle), Seto giddha (Egyptian Vulture), Sun giddha (Red-headed Vulture), Gomayu Mahacheel (Steppe Eagle), and Dungar giddha (White-rumped Vulture) are found in Resunga Forest area. 

According to Panthi, there are various challenges to the protection of rare birds in the district. 

He mentioned that problems such as occasional forest fires, habitat change, poaching, increasing use of chemical substances, and unorganized rural roads have become a challenge for bird conservation. 

BCN Gulmi has been researching and counting birds in Resunga and Madane Forest areas for the protection of rare birds, he said. 

“We have been constructing conservation ponds, organizing public awareness campaigns in the local people, and programmes related to the livelihood of the people dependent on the forest,” Panthi added.