Studies have shown that the number of birds that migrate from the Himalayan regions and Siberia to escape the cold each year is decreasing.
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This year's bird census in Bardiya has shown an increase in the number of birds in wetlands other than Badaiya Lake. As the water in Badaiya Lake, considered the largest lake in western Nepal, dries up, the number of visiting birds that come to escape the winter is decreasing.
Studies have shown that the number of birds that come from the Himalayan region and Siberia to escape the winter is decreasing every year. Bird experts say that even though the number of other birds has decreased, the number of storks has increased. In the census conducted last year, two storks were seen in Badaiya Lake, but this year it has increased to seven, said Ram Bahadur Shahi, president of the Nepal Ornithologists' Association and Banke and Bardiya coordinator of the water bird census.
About 15 species of birds that come to the lake every year in winter, including storks, kurma, bagale lion chicken, marule, hutitau, lobipapi, garuda harihans, are rarely found. Locals say that in the past, the increasing use of herbicides in the lake, annual forest feasts, noise during festivals, and unorganized fishing have led to a decrease in the number of guest birds in the wetlands.
Badaiya Lake is about 104 hectares in area, according to the land revenue records. Local Bintiram Chaudhary said that the water in the lake is drying up with encroachment in many places. This lake is considered the largest in the country in terms of area.
The number of guest birds including the marul that come to Badaiya Lake from Siberia every year has decreased. Badaiya is the second largest lake in Nepal after Bis Hazari in Chitwan for guest birds. The number of birds has not increased due to the use of tractors and tippers in the Badaiya Lake area and the pollution of DJ sound at forest feasts. Bird census is conducted every year from January 10 to 25 at the same time in the Asian continent.
This year, 918 birds of 21 species were counted in the area around the Karnali River. Information Officer and Conservation Officer of the park, Sarojmani Poudel, said that 822 birds of 32 species of grebes were found during the same period. He said that 2,149 of 40 species were counted in Badaiya Lake and 3,889 were counted in Bardiya.
According to him, 899 birds of 15 species were counted in Karnali last year. During the same period, 593 birds of 30 species were counted in Geruwa and 1,712 birds in Badhaiyatal.
