Seventeen pairs of blackbirds were found in 2004 and 11 in 2006. No studies have been conducted since 2009.
The number of rare birds, the Chirkalij, has increased in the high hilly areas around the Kaligandaki River. According to a study conducted by the Ornithologists' Association of Nepal, the number of Chirkalij has increased this year compared to 16 years ago.
The association recently conducted a study of the chirkali in Ghansa, Lete, Kunjo, Titital, Khanti, Jhipra Deurali of Thasang Rural Municipality of Mustang. The team that prepared the report of the study conducted in Mustang has come to Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality and Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve of Myagdi to study the condition of chirkali. Researcher Virat Rajak, who participated in the study team, informed that 18 pairs were found in the seven places where 6 pairs of chirkali were found in 2009.
'In 2004, 17 pairs of chirkali were found and in 2006, 11 pairs of chirkali were found,' he said, 'No study had been conducted since 2009. During the study conducted this time after 16 years, the number of chirkali has increased in the upper reaches of Kaligandaki.' Conservation education in the community, development of awareness, control of poaching, and increased human and domestic animal activities around the habitat have helped in increasing the number of chirkalij, said researcher Rajak.
He said that since people cut grass in the fields and pastures, and livestock graze, the bushes are removed and it is easier to find food, making it a favorable environment for chirkalij to live.
Except when chirkalij is blooming, the bushes are destroyed during fires and it is considered favorable for it to get plenty of food. Chaitra, Baisakh and Jestha are the times when chirkalij blooms, blooms and hatches chicks.
Chirkalij is found at an altitude of 1,400 meters to 3,600 meters above sea level. Like the common kalij, it is not found in the low coastal areas. Although this bird looks like a female pheasant at first glance, there are many differences, said researcher Keshav Chokhal.
'The male pheasant has a long tail, red eyes, and a black spot on its body, while the female is smaller than the male and has a shorter tail,' he said. 'It is called pheasant because it chirps only twice a day, before sunrise and after sunset in the evening.'
This bird, whose scientific name is 'Catrus wallichi', is known as chirpheant in English, or chirkaalij in Nepali, and chedu bird in the Far West. This bird, which makes its home on the hills, is said to produce seven to 15 flowers at a time. .
Chirkalij is found in Nepal mainly in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve and Rara National Park, as well as in Parbat, Myagdi and Baglung, Karnali and Sudurpaschim regions outside the protected areas.
Bishnu Adhikari, Chief of the Division Forest Office, Myagdi, said that it has been listed as an endangered species in the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 2029. The research has been started as it has been seen in the coastal areas of Kaligandaki as well as Myagdi and Raghuganga. The Ornithologists' Association of Nepal has stated that the donor agency Toledo Zoo has provided assistance for the study of Chirkalij.
Pawan Rai, Program Officer of the Biodiversity Conservation Society Nepal, said that a Chirkalij conservation program will be carried out based on the report received after the study in the Myagdi River area and Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve area of Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality. He says that foreign tourists coming to see rare birds will help create jobs and increase income at the local level.
