Chitwan: The migratory birds that have come to Chitwan National Park and its surrounding areas for breeding have started hatching. These birds, which begin arriving around mid-February, typically start hatching their eggs from mid-April through May.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Basu Bidari, President of the Bagmati Province Bird Education Society, noted that although exact numbers are unavailable, it is estimated that between 60 to 80 species of migratory birds have arrived in the area this season. Once their chicks are capable of flying, these birds usually return to their original habitats in September and October.
Globally, there are more than 11,000 species of birds, with approximately 40 percent classified as migratory species. Bidari explained that migratory birds visit the region twice a year, during winter and summer. However, birds escaping the winter cold do not hatch their eggs in this area.
Many migratory birds travel to Nepal from locations such as Russia’s Siberia and Mongolia during the winter and then proceed to India. In contrast, the birds that migrate in the summer primarily come from India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asian countries, and Africa, finding solace in the riverbanks, forests, and grasslands of Nepal.
During the summer, species such as the cuckoo, Swargachari, Sunchari, and heron are found in large numbers, Bidari shared. Bijay Giri, President of Bird Education Society, Chitwan, added that the presence of these beautiful bird species provides a unique observation opportunity for tourists visiting the region. Visitors can witness the recently hatched chicks in their nests in trees and bushes. By October, the migratory birds that arrived in February will have returned to their original destinations after raising their young.
Nepal is home to 900 bird species, with 652 found in and around Chitwan National Park alone.