KATHMANDU, Feb 14: A rare winter migratory bird, Baikal teal (Sibirionetta Formosa), has reappeared in the Kathmandu Valley after nearly two decades.
Birdwatchers Pratap Gurung, Ganga Sunuwar and Jaynath Bhandari spotted the Baikal teal on February 11, 2025, at Nagdaha in Dhapakhel, Lalitpur, marking its return since its last sighting on May 8, 2005, in the Taudaha area. The waterfowl, a rare visitor to Nepal, was last recorded in 2004/2005 at Taudaha, Kathmandu, by Arend van Riessen, Hem Sagar Baral and Vimal Thapa.
Swayambhunath Temple lighted up in teal color to raise awarenes...
The Baikal teal primarily breeds in the cold regions of Russia (Siberia), Mongolia, and northeastern China. As the cold season begins, it migrates southward, traveling through South Korea, Japan, eastern China, Vietnam, and India to reach Nepal and spend the winter.
If the teal spotted in Nepal has come from Siberia, it has traveled about 4,000 to 5,500 kilometers (straight line distance). The migration is not easy for it-facing harsh weather, long journeys, and the risk of hunting, it reaches Nepal. Such a long journey highlights why this waterfowl is considered a rare winter visitor to Nepal.
The Baikal teal's sighting in the Kathmandu Valley after two decades serves as a significant environmental indicator. As a rare winter visitor bird in Nepal, people consider its reappearance a positive achievement for biodiversity.
