Finn's Weaver population falls in Shuklaphanta National Park

By Avinash Chaudhary,Dhangadhi, July 16: The population of Finn’s Weaver, locally known as top chara, a critically endangered species, has declined in Shuklaphanta National Park.

A recent bird count carried out in the first week of July by the park office and Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) found fewer birds this year compared to last year. This species is found only in Shuklaphanta National Park in the Sudhurpaschim Province of Nepal.

According to Purushottam Wagle, the Information Officer of the park, a total of 184 Finn’s Weavers were recorded this year. Of them, 92 were males, 69 were females and 23 were chicks. 

The team also found 226 nests -- 114 active and 112 inactive. These birds are known to build fake nests to protect their chicks from predators. 

In 2024, the recorded number was 213 birds, with 131 active and 89 inactive nests. This year, the number of active nests has dropped.

This bird is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List and is not found anywhere else in Nepal outside Shuklaphanta. The count was done across several grassland areas within the park -- including Shuklaphanta, Mohanpur Phanta, Bichphanta, Lalpaniphanta, Andaiya and Haraiya.

Hirulal Dangoura, an ornithologist who led the counting team, said that even though the team searched all known grassland habitats, fewer birds were found this time. “We searched everywhere, but did not find more Finn’s Weavers,” he said.

According to BCN, in 2023, there were 211 birds recorded in Shuklaphanta, with 129 active and 89 inactive nests. In the census of 2014, 60 birds were counted while 200 birds were counted in 2015 and 250 in 2016. The highest count was done in 2017 at 300, Likewise, 254 birds were counted in 2018, 176 birds in 2019, 253 birds in 2020, 248 birds in 2021 and 244 birds in 2022.

Experts believed that the decline is due to changes in habitat. Dangoura added that during the breeding season, birds such as crows and drongos eat the eggs and chicks of the Finn’s Weaver. 

This bird was first discovered in Shuklaphanta in 1996 by a noted ornithologist, Dr. Hem Sagar Baral. In Nepal, there are four types of weaver birds, including Chestnut Weaver, Streaked Weaver, Golden Bush-robin and Baya Weaver.