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Study on impact of climate change on birds begins

Asian paradise female in nest. Photo: File photo
Asian paradise female in nest. Photo: File photo

KATHMANDU, Nepal- Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) has started a research to find out the impacts of climate change on birds in the country.

As the climate change has left its impacts on various sectors the research intended to find out the effects and condition of birds in the country, said the BCN.

Stating that birds are the indicant of the climate change, Sushila Nepali, chief of BCN said, “the study has aimed to find out the actual condition of birds in Nepal through research.”

The study is being carried out at Koshi Tappu, the largest wetland and important site for birds along with Chitwan, Shuklaphat and Badiya Conservation areas which are best known sites for the natural habitat of birds.

According to Nepali, due to climate change the numbers of migrant birds coming to Nepal in various seasons from different countries in the world have also decreased in the recent years.

Mainly migrant birds fly up to Nepal from various Asian and African nations during first week of September and return by second week of April every year.

Every year Nepal witnesses two kinds of bird migration, winter migration and summer migration. While 150 species or more enter Nepal during winter to shun winter in their home country, some 30 to 40 species arrive in the spring and stay here till October. Some of these birds come from Sub-Saharan Africa — a journey of more than 5,000 km one way.

In the winter migration, birds come from the north soon after completing their breeding cycle. By contrast, nearly all summer migrants come to Nepal for breeding and most of them are from south India and Southeast Asia. Among the migratory birds that come to Nepal are Water-ducks, Asian paradise flycatcher , chestnut-headed bee-eater, pied cuckoo among others.

Researchers say that the bird species have been following their migration routines for millions of years, in search of easy food, good weather and a place where there is less competition from other species.

“Though this is a regular phenomenon for many migrant birds for many years, the number has been decreasing recently”.

According to the Bird Conservation Nepal, 50 billion species of birds, that is around 19 per cent of the world’s 10,000 species, migrate to far-off lands every year.

Currently Nepal hosts 871 species of birds among which as many as 149 species are enlisted as endangered.

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