With the onset of winter, flocks of migratory waterfowl begin to appear in the Narayani and Rapti rivers that flow through the Chitwan National Park area.

With the onset of winter, flocks of migratory birds dependent on the water of the Narayani and Rapti rivers flowing through the Chitwan National Park area begin to appear. Regular censuses have been conducted for years to determine the species and number of these birds.

The species and number of these birds that cross the mountains have been increasing every year. But now, 'champions' are gathering to find out why this change is happening.

Lal Bahadur Bote is active as a nature guide who takes tourists to the Chitwan National Park and the surrounding buffer zone. He is one of the 20 'champions' who hails from Bagkhor, Kawasoti Municipality-15, Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East). These 'champions', prepared by including the youth of Nawalparasi and Chitwan, are now active in the potential habitats and communities of the birds.

Lal Bahadur was found in the old wetland 'Budhauli Kuna Ghol' in the Kawasoti area. He was taking notes on the birds that come there, the condition of the ghol, the surrounding plants and the farming system along with the elders and his friends. The team has made a record of 32 species of birds, both migratory and native.

The ghol in Budhauli is not only the basis of life for the birds, but also the basis of the local community. “Even if there are no humans for the birds, birds are essential for humans,” says Lal Bahadur. This ghol is the source of water flowing in the canal even in mid-winter. There are paddy fields harvested in November around the ghol.

Although it is difficult to cultivate in winter due to the wet land, preparations for Chaite paddy have already begun. Sacks and plastic have been tied around the seed beds to make it look like people are standing around to keep the birds out, but even in the midst of that, birds were seen picking the seeds.

Large birds like the crested eagle, the scaly eagle and a pair of migratory chakheva were also found in the ghol area. This ghol is located about one and a half to two kilometers from the forest connected to Kawasoti Bazaar on the East-West Highway.

There are houses along the forest, then fields and below them, the ghol. To the south of the ghol is the village of Laukhani. GN Mahato there reached the ghol in 15 minutes on a bicycle. Local Chhabilal Gurau and Anita Pariyar from the settlement near the forest also arrived there to cut grass for the cattle and buffaloes. All of them, who saw the arrival of the birds, shared their experience of the gradual decline of the ghol.

The locals understand that if the ghol is protected, irrigation and farming will be better. But few have clear information about why the birds come and how human activities affect them. The feeling that the birds are declining is common to all.

Local youth have become 'champions' by seeking answers to these questions and explaining the importance of birds. They are called champions because they know more than other locals about the condition, importance and conservation methods of birds.

Prem Poudel, the eastern cluster in-charge of Tal, said that local youth were trained under the Terai Habitat Conservation Program (TAL) run in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal and the Government of Nepal. He clarified that they were named 'champions' because they were prepared with information.

'The behavior of birds or wildlife cannot be changed, what needs to be changed is human behavior. Based on this concept, the Behavior Change Communication (BCC) campaign has been launched. A team of youth has been prepared to work on bird conservation under this campaign,' he said.  

According to Poudel, the eastern cluster in-charge of Tal, 20 youths, including five from Kalabanjar Intermediate Consumers' Committee in Chitwan and 15 from Pithauli, Lamichaur, Gundrahi-Dhakaha areas of Nawalparasi, are in this campaign. Nine of them are young women.

Nepal is the main route for migratory birds in winter. The number of such birds is particularly significant in the river area flowing through Chitwan National Park. Now, along with counting the number of birds, it is necessary to analyze the condition of the habitat, says Rajendra Suwal of WWF Nepal. This is where the young champions have taken on the responsibility.

During bird monitoring, details such as the condition of the river and stream, plants in the wetlands, grass-covered areas, cattle grazing, and gravel and stone excavation are also collected. “We are trying to study the impact of changes in the condition of crops and wetlands on birds,” says Hem Katuwal, a consultant bird expert at WWF Nepal. He said that a long-term study will help in making an effective conservation plan.

Chandra Mahato, a nature guide from Kawasoti-10, is also active in bird monitoring. She has been reaching out to locals and schools around the wetlands for a year to spread awareness about the importance of birds. DB Chaudhary, who has been active in conservation for more than three decades, says that since birds are an important basis for tourism, conservation will strengthen the environment as well as the economy.

Common cranes (Laxman Saras) migrate to the fields of Dibyanagar in the Kalabanjar area in winter in abundance. Four common cranes were also seen in a paddy field near Budhauli Kuna Ghol. According to Manesh Limbu, president of the Meghauli Ghatgain Nature Guide Association, more than 200 common cranes were counted there 5-6 years ago, but only 26 have been seen this year.