KATHMANDU, Jan 2: A census of water birds began in the country from Saturday with the objective of collecting the details and status as well as updating the number of endemic and migratory birds in the wetlands. 

The Wetlands International has been globally coordinating the water bird census that is being undertaken through the collaboration of the Department of National parks and Wildlife Conservation, Bird Conservation Association Nepal and the Organisation working for the conservation of Himalayan Environment and birds and biodiversity at the local level.

The water bird census will continue in Nepal till January 18.  More than 300 persons including experts of this sector, representatives of the organisations concerned and local volunteers will be involved in the census.

The organizers have urged conducting the water bird census by adopting health safety measures in view of the risk of COVID-19 this year.

Birds that breed, live, feed and roam around and spend most of their time in the wetland and surrounding areas are called water birds.   

Nepal has more than 100 species of water birds and most of them are migratory birds, it is said. National coordinator of the census, Dr Hem Sagar Baral said that the census is being conducted on a voluntary basis and is aimed at raising public awareness on conservation through the participation of the local communities and stakeholder bodies. 

The water bird census is being conducted in more than 60 wetlands, lakes, ponds and rivers throughout the country. It will be focused more on the wetland areas of the Tarai region.

Dr Baral shared that the water bird census began from the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in the east and the Shuklaphanta National Park on the far-west.

The census of water birds is taking place throughout the world under the leadership of Wetlands International.

 
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