The chestnut-headed bee-eater has always been among the earliest summer migrants to reach Nepal. The bird species was identified in early March this year at Chitwan National Park, states a press release issued by Himalayan Nature on Monday. [break]
With the appearance of the chestnut-headed bee-eater, other bird species are also expected to enter Nepal soon.
The Asian paradise flycatcher, one of the more attractive birds that migrate to Nepal every spring, has also made its way to Chitwan early, according to Hem Sagar Baral, technical advisor to Himalayan Nature.
The organization, which tracks bird activity in the country, expects a variety of cuckoos to show up in Nepal between the last week of March and the second week of April.
“The Asian koel has already reached Kathmandu and will stay here throughout spring and early summer,” reads the statement.
Asian Paradise Female in nest.
The pied cuckoo, which covers the longest journey among summer migrants to Nepal, has also been seen in Kathmandu this season. Some of these birds come from Sub-Saharan Africa -- a journey of more than 5,000 km one way.
Every year Nepal witnesses two kinds of bird migration, winter migration and summer migration. While 150 species or more enter Nepal during winter, some 30 to 40 species arrive in the spring and stay here till October.
In the winter migration, birds come from the north soon after completing their breeding cycle. By contrast, nearly all summer migrants come to Nepal for breeding and most of them are from south India and Southeast Asia.
Researchers say that the bird species have been following their migration routines for millions of years, in search of easy food, good weather and a place where there is less competition from other species.
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