Bird census begins from Rapti

Janaki (Banke), Jan 19: The census of water birds has started from the Rapti River in Kusum of Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality-1.  

  
Birendra Kandel, Chief Conservation Officer of Banke National Park, shared that the census has been started from the Rapti River in Banke. “Like every year, this year too we have started the census of water birds from the Rapti River,” he said.    

During the bird census this year, various species of birds have been captured on camera on the first day itself.    

Ornithologist Ram Shahi, who has reached Rapti for the bird census, said that the bird habitats have been disappearing in recent times. He said that the bird habitats have been disappearing due to human activities in the river, wetlands and water bodies.    

Likewise, Conservationist Ashish Chaudhary said that bird censuses have been conducted every winter for the past three years. The number of water birds is found to be decreasing due to the construction work being done in the bird habitats, the indiscriminate use of pesticides, and the increasing movement of people, he said.    

A team including ornithologists, conservationists, park officials, security personnel and others has been mobilized to count birds in the Rapti River since Saturday. The team will visit Banke National Park, Rapti River, wetlands and watershed to count birds during their stay in Banke, according to Banke National Park authorities.    

During the count, the team will visit Kanti Lake in Nepalgunj, Sutaiya Lake in Baijnath, and Mankhola on the border of Bardiya, among other places, shared ornithologist Shahi. (RSS)