Kawasoti, Jan. 10: Baikal teal (Sibirionetta Formosa), also called the bimaculate duck or squawk duck, is a beautiful small duck native to eastern Siberia, but it was recently spotted in and around the Narayani River in Nepal’s Nawalpur district.Baikal teal, one of the very rare species for Nepal and is listed as a vagrant species in “Birds of Nepal” was spotted during a monitoring visit to the river on Sunday.
DB Chowdhury, the Chitwan West Sector Coordinator of the Winter Water Bird Census, said that Nepal is currently hosting extremely rare migratory birds along the Narayani River in Kawasoti-13. Baikal teal general migrates to east Asia to escape winter and find food.
Birds from various countries have arrived in and around the Narayani River in eastern Nawalparasi to spend the winter, he added.Baikal teal, the winter migratory bird has been recorded in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan for a long time, but this rare bird has been spotted in Nawalpur for the first time, Chaudhary informed.
Nepal serves as a winter habitat for numerous migratory bird species. Baikal Teals generally visit the country during the winter months, and it has made its first visit to the Narayani River in Nawalpur this year, Chaudhary said.Various types of birds, including indigenous, winter migratory, and summer migratory species, can be found in the vicinity of the Narayani River. Particularly the water birds migrate to this area during this month.
According to Chaudhary, birds from Siberia, China, Burma, Mongolia, Russia, Korea, Thailand, and other countries are currently visiting this area.Among the birds that visit the area, there are birds of different species including ducks and Great cormorants.Nature guide, Maan Bahadur Choudhary said that the migratory birds visit the area from September to December and begin their return to their native habitats in February after the temperature starts to rise.
Given the presence of various bird species in Nepal during the winter season, a winter water bird census has been conducted. The water bird census started across the country on January 6 and the count will start in and around the Kawasoti area the Narayani River in a few days.
Comments