CHITWAN: Migratory birds that arrived in Chitwan to escape the heat and breed have now started hatching their eggs. These birds, which typically begin arriving from mid-February, generally start hatching around mid-April through May.
Basu Bidari, President of the Bagmati Province Bird Education Society, said that although there are no precise figures, an estimated 60 to 80 species of migratory birds have reached Chitwan National Park and nearby areas this season.
“These birds usually return to their native habitats in September and October, once their chicks are capable of flying,” Bidari said.
Globally, there are more than 11,000 known bird species, with about 40 percent categorized as migratory. Bidari explained that migratory birds visit Nepal twice a year—during winter and summer. However, birds that come to escape the cold do not lay eggs here.
Birds migrating to Nepal in winter mostly arrive from Siberia and Mongolia, often continuing on to India. In contrast, summer visitors come from India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and Africa. These birds are commonly seen near rivers, forests, and grasslands.
In the summer months, species such as the cuckoo, Swargachari, Sunchari, and heron are frequently spotted in large numbers.
Bijay Giri, President of the Bird Education Society in Chitwan, said this season offers birdwatchers a great opportunity to observe a variety of beautiful migratory species. Visitors can see chicks in nests nestled in trees and shrubs, he said, adding that the migratory birds that arrive in February typically return by October after raising their young.
Nepal is home to 900 species of birds, with 652 of them found in and around Chitwan National Park.
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