According to Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN), 149 kinds of birds found in Nepal are listed as endangered species. Birds found in the Tarai region of the country in particular, are prone to extinction, according to bird experts. [break]
Lowland in Tarai is the main habitat for the birds. However, depletion of grasslands and wetlands vital for the bird habitat has cause threat to the existence of the birds.
According to BCN chief executive officer, Hum Gurung, destruction of natural habitat was the reason for pushing 128 species of birds into the endangered list. 21 other species were on the list mainly because their population had suffered due to extensive use of pesticides and unabated poaching.
As per the information provided by BCN, 867 species of birds have been recorded in Nepal so far. Of that 650 species of birds stay in Nepal permanently while 153 birds species migrate to Nepal from other parts of the world in winter season and 65 species of migratory birds come to Nepal in summer.
“The increasing use of pesticides in the field for the production of crops and rapid deforestation are the main cause for the birds to vanish from Nepal,” said Gurung. “Even the uncontrolled poaching is playing the major role to push the bird species to the edge.”
According to Conservation Officer at BCN Jotendrajyeu Thakuri bird species are suffering due to the increasing pollutions and shrinking agriculture lands. “Most of the birds in Tarai are seen in the grasslands. However with the increasing urbanization, the grassland and the open meadows are vanishing and so are the bird species,” said Thakuri. He further informed that the bird living around lakes and rivers preying on fishes are affected by uncontrolled growth of harmful and invasive species of weeds such as water hyacinth.
In 2004, total of 143 bird species were listed as endangered species however, in 2010 the number increased to 149, Gurung informed. The researches have shown that the effects of pesticides are found even in hatching and reproduction system of the birds. Species of cranes are the most affected.
Bird expert Hari KC informed that the birds like Indian Roller, Bhudifor and Seto Gadur among other have already vanished from Pokhara valley. “Flocks of birds come to Pokhara from Tarai to avoid heat and from Himalayan Region to avoid winter. However due to increasing urban area, the numbers of birds are decreasing”, KC said. “Due to the change in the climate many birds have stopped hatching fledglings”
According to BCN, 33 species of birds in Nepal are in the endangered due to the climate change effect. Out of total five species are listed as critically endangered, five as endangered and 23 in vulnerable categories.
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