Divyanagar is 20 km west of the headquarters Bharatpur. There is a paddy field just below the Bharatpur-Meghauli road. Thousands of waterfowl fly from Siberia to escape the cold in this area. Some water birds fly from higher than Mt. Everest and stop here.

The main waterfowl coming from Siberia is the 'Common Crane' i.e. the Laxman Stork, which dominates the Divyanagar gorge. Locals call it Karyangkurung. This bird comes to Divyanagar and spends the whole winter. Hathan Chaudhary, Central President of Nepal Ornithologists' Association, said that although it stops at Kailali and sometimes Koshitappu for a few days, the number of visits of this bird that spends the winter in Divyanagar is decreasing. Rest of page 9

This time, the number of Karyangkurung has increased a bit. On the morning of December 22, a team including Hathan Chaudhary monitored the migratory waterfowl in Divyanagar. Chaudhary informed that 32 Laxman storks were found during that time. Last year, only 17 Laxman storks were found. Five years ago in 2020, 242 Laxman storks were found in that area of ​​Divyanagar.

Even though the Laxman stork is decreasing, conservationists say that the bird has not left the Divyanagar area. This time, 34 species of waterfowl have been found in Divyanagar district. Chaudhary informed that the total number of waterfowl is 2,375. "Compared to last year, species and numbers have increased," he said. "Last year, only 543 water birds of 32 species were found. This time two more species were seen. The number of birds has also been found. Last year, he did not see the dead birds Red Jun Bukalla, Mbhaula Jalewa, Suiro Thunde and Timitima this time.

Although four species of birds did not come this year, large white bakulla, hutityaun, barak chaha, pani goathli, malaha chil and large matikore, which were not seen last year, were found this time. In the calculation, only 275 pani Gauthali were found. This time, 842 bar-headed geese have been found. Last year, 198 of these ducks were found. Khoya Duck is a bird that flies higher than Mount Everest.

Two of the three highest flying birds are found in Divyanagar. According to ornithologist Chaudhary, the highest bird that flies at 13,000 meters is 'Rupal's Vulture'. It is not found in Nepal and will not come. Karyangkurung flies at 11,000 meters and the third number, Khoya duck, flies at 9,000 meters, he said, meaning that Karyangkurung and Khoya ducks, which fly at a higher altitude than Mount Everest, come to Divyanagar. 

 The area of ​​Divyanagar, which is about 400 bighas, belongs to Bharatpur Metropolitan Municipality-26. Narayani river is about 3 km north of Fant. Some distance to the south is Chitwan Park and Rapti River. Choudhary, an ornithologist, said that because the environment of the farm is like a wetland, many waterfowl come here. "In Siberia, as it gets colder, there is a shortage of food, so the birds come south over the mountains in search of food," he said. 

 In Divyanagar, the count also counted other birds living on the ground. Chaudhary said that 675 such birds of 46 species have appeared. "Divyanagar is an example of how many birds are hanging around in the fields that people like for farming," he said. They do not eat food, but insects, grasshoppers, tadpoles, frogs, lizards, snakes, and small fish.' 

Ward president of Bharatpur-26 Gyan Prasad Khanal said that the ward office has also allocated a budget for awareness programs for bird conservation. He informed that a budget of Rs 50,000 was arranged last year and Rs 1 lakh this year. 

The census of Nepal's water birds started in 1987. Bird monitoring has been going on for 8 years in the Divyanagar area. The sighting of Karyangkurung here attracted the attention of bird lovers. Later, after 8 years, birds have been counted regularly in the winter since we were asked to see not only the Karyangkurung i.e. Laxman stork, but also other birds,' said Chaudhary, an ornithologist who lives in Bharatpur-25, a neighboring village of Divyanagar.