"The number of birds of all species are found to have declined," said ornithologist Hem Sagar Baral "The decline is mainly owing to the low number of migrant birds. Not many migrant birds came this year."[break]
Two years ago, a deadly flood, caused by the collapse of one of the embankments of Koshi River, had inundated a large part of KTWR, reportedly, perishing many species of rare birds. It is believed that KTWR no longer remains a destination of migrant birds since then.
According to Baral, during this year´s count of winter birds, only 25 Suiro Puchchres were spotted. In the past, as many as 50,000 of them were recorded. Similarly, only two Khoya Hans (ducks) were recorded this year. As many as 200 such ducks had arrived in the past. Not one Phurke Hans and Dev Hans were spotted this year.
"This year, there has been a huge decline in the number of ducks of different species," said Baral, and put forward a question, "If the decline persists, how could KTWR retain the long-cherished glory of being a haven of birds?" Of the total 867 species of birds recorded in Nepal, 492 can be spotted in the KTWR, making it an ultimate destination for bird lovers.
The KTWR officials hope to attract more tourists during the 11th bird festival, the endeavor would blissfully coincide with the recently-inaugurated Nepal Tourism Year (NTY). However, as Badri Narayan Chaudhary, who has been working as a bird guide for the last 12 years, points out, tourists are less likely to turn up this year solely for watching birds.
"Until five years ago, migrant birds form Siberia, Korea and Middle East used to show up in large flocks at Koshi Tappu every winter season," Chaudhary says. "Tourists loved to pitch their tents and watch beautiful birds. Sadly, that´s not going to be the case this time round."
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