Kathmandu, January 6. Counting of winter migratory birds is underway in the Chitwan National Park (CNP) and adjoining areas. The census that kicked off Wednesday will conclude on coming Friday. The count of winter migratory birds takes place from January 1 to 15 each year in Nepal and it incorporates wetland clusters of different 15 locations in the country.

The count had begun in Koshi River, Ghodaghodi lake and Shuklaphanta Park on January 1.  According to Nepalese Ornithological Union, Bagmati province coordinator Basu Bidari, today the census was conducted at the Bish Hajari lake and the adjoining areas such as Batuli, Kumal, Tikauli Satrahajari Lake and the canal area by a team of 42 experts.

On Wednesday, it was done at several areas from Lotharkhola to Kasaraghat and Lami Lake, Tamor Lake and Patana Lake inside the CNP, at Bhandara and from Chitrasari Bridge to Rapti Dobhan, 

As Bird Education Society said, on Friday, the experts will reach those areas missed in the previous counting and the West Chitwan. 

The census is taking place with the use of technology.  Last year, 9,565 birds of 55 species were recorded in Chitwan. The bird census has been taking place since 1987. 

A large number of migratory birds arrive in Nepal mostly from Mongolia, the southern part of Russia, Siberia and Central Asia while the arrival is not much from Eastern Europe during winters.

The census is being conducted with the collaboration of Bird Education Society, Nepal Ornithologists Association, Himalayan Nature, National Trust for Nature Conservation, CNP Buffer Zone Community Forests groups. (RSS)