Birdwatching Activities of FOB in June, 2007

Saturday Birdwatching in Budhanilkantha – Tokha, June 2, 2007

Two regular members of FOB Gopi Shrestha and Krishna did Saturday Birdwatiching trip from Budhanilkantha to Tokha passing through Pasikot. The total number of birds sighted/heard was 31 as listed below:

Red-vented Bulbul, Himalayan Bulbul, Great Tit, Black Lored Tit, Grey-hooded warbler, Yellow wagtail, Chestnut-tailed starling, Stone chat, Oriental Magpie Robin, Verditer Flycatcher, Scaly Thrush, Blue-caped Rock Thrush, Blue-whistling Thrush, Black Drongo, Ashy Drongo, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Large cuckoo shrike, Large billed crow, House crow, Red-billed blue Magpie, Grey tree pie, Large tell shrike, Rusty cheeked scimitar Babbler, Eurasian cuckoo, Grey-billed cuckoo, Cattle egret, Besra, Black Kite, Spotted dove, Oriental white eye, Indian cuckoo (Call only).

Godawari Nature Walk, Saturday, June 09, 2007 - Vimal Thapa

Hills around Godawari from bus stop.

This Saturday FoB combined an educational bird walk for the children with the regular Saturday bird trip. Total 15 children took the walk to Godawari area at the base of the Phulchauki. These children were accompanied by one of their teacher Mr. Bhes Nepali, coming from an orphanage called Aama Ghar Foundation based at Godawari area itself.

The name of participants were: Kalpana Pun, Birajan Giri, Pabita Pun, Manisha, Manju Ghatraj, Pabita Basnet, Krishna Nagakoti, Ram Adhikari, Anish Lama, Akshay Shrestha, Sandesh Shrestha, Subash Gurung, Sajan Sakya, Ashok Shrestha, Parvati Shrestha and Bhes Nepali (teacher).

These children were from the grade six to grade nine enrolled in different school at Godawari. They seem very well managed and disciplined. One of the very positive aspects of these children were that, they seemed extremely enthusiastic and happy to learn about birds and the bird trip and dared to come out of their comfortable cocoon inspite of the rain that disrupted the most of the walks and prevented the group to take the longer walks deeper into the forest areas. Even the walk was short somewhat in rains they thoroughly enjoyed the walking, seeing and learning about whatever birds were pointed out to them. They were also found to have known few birds seen in their surrounding areas, especially in local names. They also said to be happy to take more trips like this in future to learn more about birds and the environment.

They were given a little orientation regarding the birds of Nepal with a discussion held. They were also given the list of birds to mark the sighting they did, which was good. During this short walk for about an hour at Godawari area following birds were sighted:

Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos macei), Great Barbet (Megalaima virens), Eurasian Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Grey Treepie (Dendrocitta formosae), House Crow (Corvus splendens), Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), Long-tailed Minivet (Pericrocotus ethologus), Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus), Blue Whistling Thrush Myophonus caeruleus), Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis), Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis), Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch (Sitta castanea), Great Tit (Parus Major), Black-lored Tit (Parus xanthogenys), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer), Himalayan Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys), Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus).

FOB member Vimal Thapa interacting with children

The bird walk meant to educate the children and other participants went well today though the incessant rain did not allow the walk to go further for longer period cutting down the sighting of the birds much less. FoB members also visited the Aama Ghar Foundation and contributed some foodstuffs like cookies and fruits for the children. FOB Members had an interaction program with children about birds and todays birdwatching program at the end in Aama Ghar and concluded with a commitment to take similar walks in future.Members of FOB who guided the participant children includes: Deepak Shrestha, Lalit Lanchan, Bhusan Shrestha, Surbendra Pachhai, Rajendra Gurung and Vimal Thapa.).

Saturday Birdwatching in Godawari-Phulchowki for Nepal Jaycee Chapters, June 16, 2007

Enchanting view of Godawari hill area

On the invitation of Godawari Jaycees, who were hosting a meeting of chapters of Nepal Jaycees, FOB organized about 3 hours of bird watching programme. There were nineteen participants from different chapters for the walk. This was very different kind of assemblage that FOB took for birding. They were all adults coming from all the vocation like teacher, jobholder and business entrepreneur etc.

Group prepareing for birdwatching

Blue-throated Barbet

Participants were given a little information regarding birds and birdwatching just before a walk at seven in the morning. FOB also promoted BCN’s activities and announced for possibility of membership in BCN to interested people. The weather also supported the activity that day and the group was taken to the bird corner. In the beginning the sighting was not so good but as the group advance further up, the presence of more birds were strongly felt and heard. Many birds like Striated laughing Thrush, Golden-throated Barbet and Rufous Sibia were all very distinct with their calls. The group was also very keen to know about birds and most of them enjoyed seeing and hearing the beautiful calls of the birds. The Black Eagles were (3 in numbers) seen soaring high up, above the forest. On the way back Godawari bus park area was lively with small birds like Warblers, Tits and bigger one- Blue-throated Barbet taking care of its nest in the hole of a bare tree. The conspicuous sight were an adult S. Piculet and Black-lored Tit bringing out their young ones and feeding them.

Total over forty species of birds were recorded on this very day, which includes:

1. Speckled Piculet Picumnus innominatus – 2, an adult feeding the young one.
2. Great Barbet Megalaima virens
3. Blue0throated Barbet Megalaima asiatica
4. Golden-throated Barbet Megalaima frankilinii – call
5. Eurasian Cuckoo Cuculus canorus – 3
6. House Swift Apus affinis
7. Rock Pigeon Columba livia
8. Black Kite Milvus migrans - 2
9. Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis – 2
10. Besra Accipiter vigratus – 1
11. Cattle Eagret Bubulcus ibis
12. Red-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa erythrorhyncha - 4
13. Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae – 4
14. House Crow Corvus splendens
15. Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos
16. Long-tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus
17. Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus - 4
18. Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus – 2
19. Blue Whistling Thrush Myophonus caeruleus- 2+
20. Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis – 9+
21. Chestnut-tailed Starling Sturnus malabaricus - 2
22. Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus
23. Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
24.Chesnut-bellied Nuthatch Sitta castanea – 2
25. Great Tit Parus major
26. Black-lored Tit Parus xanthogenys
27. Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus
28. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
29. Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica
30. Red-vented Bulbul Pcnonotus cafer
31. Himalayan Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys
32. Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus
33. Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus
34. Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius
35. Grey-hooded Warbler Seicercus xanthoschistos
36. Striated Laughingthrush Garrulax straitus – call
37. Rufous Sibia Heterophasia capsitrata
38. Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectus
39. Black-throated Sunbird Aethopyga saturata – 1
40. House Sparrow Passer domesticus
41. Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
42. White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata – 2
43. Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura puntuata

Birdwatchers enjoying birdwatching

FOB members verifying the identified birds

The name of participant were Surya Ranjat, Balchandra Shrestha, Krishna Prajapati, Suraj Shrestha, Binod Shrestha, Tekendra Joshi, Suman Sakha, Ms. Srijana KC, Ms. Puja Sharma, Ms. Manjari Shrestha, Prakash Deep Rai, Ms Neeta Silpakar, Ujjwol Rajbhandari, Rajjet Poddar, Rajendra Thapa.

Statue of Buddha at Shanti Ban

Deepak Shrestha, Rajendra Gurung, Bhusan Shrestha, Surbendra Pachchai, Bal Gopal Shrestha and Vimal Thapa led the walk. And latter Santiban (Peace forest) was also visited. Santiban is located in the west of Godawari and a short leisurely walk can get one there. It is a beautiful surrounding with a large statue of Lord Buddha established some six year ago. This area also needs to be surveyed for birds on a suitable time of the day.

Fob is very thankful to Jaycee for arrangements of overnight at Godawari with food and also for the token of a very special appreciation.

A view from Shanti Ban

Saturday Birding around Pashupati forest area (World Heritage Site), June 23, 2007 - Vimal Thapa

Three members took the bird walk in the forest of Pashupati area. Trying to fit the schedule Pashupati area, an important world heritage site was considered after some time. Even though this time of year is not a great time for the birding, its not that there are no birds at all but the chances are less to see them due to the warm and uncongenial weather. Other reason is that they are well hidden in the thickets and most of them has gone less vocal. This part has, though small, wonderful forest, inspite lying in the middle of the city, is protected due to its spiritual value in Nepalese culture. Located in the bank of river Bagmati, with the horde of temples and old monuments, this place is a meeting points for many people of Kathmandu especially during the festivals and weakened. The ambient is really magical here.

Dragon Fly seen in the site

Pashupati area within the very close reach of many people, who cannot afford to use much of their time, is an ideal place for watching animals and above all wonderful birds with comfort and minimum use of time. A part of this area has been developed as a DEER park where one can see many Spotted Deer and Black Buck with few Muntjac or barking deer. As legend tells that in ancient time Lord Shiva himself used to come here disguised as a deer.

The birding began at 7.30 in the morning and continued till 10am. The area used for birding was in the eastern part of the forest, which is much less human disturbed and has dense forest. The enjoyable part of the birding was sighting of baby birds being lured by their parents with food, to teach them to survive in this world. Nests of White-throated Kingfisher were also spotted on the sandy slope in the middle of the forest being taken care by both male and female bird. Single beautiful male Blue-throated Flycatcher also made the day with its melodious song in the greenery. Eurasian Cuckoo was very felt, seen and heard everywhere in the forest.

Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker

Following twenty-eight species of birds were recorded within the span of little over two hours:

1. Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus macei) – 1 male
2. Blue-throated Barbet (Megalaima asiatica)
3. White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) – 2 near its nest
4. Eurasian Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) – 3+
5. Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
6. House Swift (Apus affinis)
7. Rock Pigeon (Columa livia)
8. Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
9. Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
10. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
11. House Crow (Corvus splendens)
12. Verditer Flycatcher (Eumyias thalassina) – 1
13. Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher (Culicicapa ceylonensis) – 3
14. Blue-throated Flycatcher (Cyornis rubeculoides) –1
15. Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis)
16. Chestnut-tailed Starling (Sturnus malabaricus)
17. Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
18. Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus)
19. Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch (Sitta castanea)
20. Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (Sitta frontalis)
21. Great Tit (Passer major)
22. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
23. Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
24. Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus)
25. Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius)
26. Grey-hooded Flycatcher (Seicercus xanthoschistos)
27. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
28. Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)

Members who participated were Rajendra Gurung, Surbendra Pachhai and Vimal Thapa.

Plantation at Bagmati Nature Park and Birdwatching at Swoyambhu, June 30, 2007

Gopi, Deepak, Anuroop and Vimal participated the plantation programmed held at Bagmati Nature Park organized by BCN for its 25th anniversary and Nepal River Conservation who is celebrating Bagmati river festival also supported the programme. There were about fifty participants and about three hundred plants were planted at Bagmati Nature Park.

After 3 hours of plantation Gopi and Vimal went to Swoyambhu to see if we any birds could be found. It was already 11am but still some regular species of birds like Blue throated Barbet, Oriental White Eyes, Grey-hooded Warbler, Common Tailorbird, Asian Koel, Eurasian Cuckoo, Black Kite, Oriental Magpie Robin, Common Myna and Red-vented Bulbul etc. Other attraction were the R. Monkeys being easing on the ground or on the tree with their young one (unfortunately the number seems less as they are being taken to US for some medical finding etc!!) and active Squirrel.

Pictures by : Bhushan & Sarbendra