Some Words of Welcome

Namaste!

I would like to welcome you to my blog which is about my life as an adventurous, spiritual person who’s passionate about nature. I invite all readers, travelers and holiday planners to online – and hopefully also real – journeys through Nepal. 

It is such a great pleasure for me that I have already had the chance to experience over 500 guided tours and trekking trips since 1993, as a porter, guide, leader, yoga teacher, Reiki master and more. The choices of my clients, my companions for their holidays have differed depending on their time availability, their interest or destination plans, but every single trip was memorable and filled with different experiences.

The satisfaction and happiness of travelers is my motto when I guide people through their holiday tour in Nepal.  I am always happy to share specific information about outdoor activities, about our culture, nature during any sort of journeys.

Also, if you’re looking for a natural or spiritual research within you, or for a journey that is uplifting for your soul, body and mind just extend your hand toward me and join me on a journey.  You can find this balance in yoga ,  meditation, reiki practice and channeling, nature hikes and bird watching  to feel absolute joy in life.

In my blog, I’m sharing stories of previous journeys and also my thoughts about spirituality. If you feel inspired and would like to visit my country with me, I hope my page will be a good entry point for you to already learn some things about our culture and wonderful nature. If you feel invited, have special holiday plans in mind or would like to find out more about something, feel free to comment on my blog or contact me.

Happy Journeys!

Jaya N. Bhandari

Kathmandu Valley : The Refuge of Migrating Birds

The autumn is running , in which season birds start flying down to warm place for wintering.  Birds select suitable places for their comfortable wintering. Kathmandu valley is one of their choices in middle part of Nepal.

Kathmandu valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in the Country even in the world with geographical and ecological aspects. More than 535 species of birds were recorded in Kathmandu valley and its periphery but the habitat of birds and avifauna rapidly decreased since last two decades and loses many of avian fauna from the valley.  Three places Chobhar-Bagmati-Taudaha, Nagdaha and Manohara dramatically offer the opportunities of resting and remain habitat for migratory waders, water birds and residential birds within Kathmandu Valley. Those can be considered as refuges of birds, providing favorable ecological environment, especially for migratory birds as well.

Chobhar -Bagmati-Taudaha

Chobhar gorge, Baghmati and Taudaha are traditional and historical sites which are carrying their related story. When Manjushri or Krishna chopped from the Chobhar’s outlet to drain the big lake as Bagmati River, the Snakes and other aquatic creators lost their habitat, should find out the solution to settle them. Taudaha was formed and settled there.

It has ecological importance for birds especially migratory in post-summer in winter for shore birds and ducks. Bagmati is for shore and Taudaha for ducks and gulls

Nowadays Taudaha is revised as developed and ruined the natural habitat of migratory and residents birds. Even though every year 70 – 150 migratory birds used to arrive in that lake and surround. I.e. Gulls, ducks, Terns, waders  

  But that is going to decrease due to the habitat lost. All natural structures and fields are full of in risk.

 Mythical and cultural aspect of Nagdaha

It is believed that female snake (Nagini) of Nagdaha and male snake (Naga) Taudaha and some time used to stay together and visit Panauti in every rainy season ( Barsha Yam). There is a legend that these mystic godly creatures in the form of half man and half snake helped to rain. Hence, local people built temple of Naga and began worshiping on every Nagpanchami. 

Salinadi- Manohara River

Manichud and Shakharapur are resource areas of Salinadai and kageshwari after joining kageshwari to Salinadi became Manohara River. Manohara means hypnotic character of angel, as half human half bird that dance and attract the heart of beings. Justifying its name, the river flows from the eastern part of Kathmandu valley attracting many verities of ducks, waders, raptors, terrestrial and water, locals and migratory birds.

It is a small patch of land but hold enough charm and beauty to attract various kinds of birds.  There is proper combination of forest, harvesting field agricultural field and wetland. Spread up to 7 hectares, Manohara attracts various endangered, migratory, and wetland birds. The record of two seasons (Last Summer and Autumn Season) suggest red necked falcon, pacific golden plover, Kentish plover, Eurasian Curlew, Jack snipe, Baillon’s crake, Pied harrier, Amur falcon, eastern imperial eagle sheltered on the bank of Manohara .  It is becoming as a good to place for bird lovers and also termed as “Mini Koshi Tappu” in Kathmandu valley. During big bird year 2020 weekend more than 56 species were sighted in that small and cozy wetland area. Later on more species were added.

But this year the flood of monsoon season has ruined the migratory and shore bird’s habitat, in spite that some strange birds visited and still continuing to migrate and temporarily stay there.

The bank of Manohara and nearby green patches are fully became dry it will take time to be important ecological shelter for vagrant, migratory or passer migrant birds. This year even for short term stay.

 Despite haphazard urbanization and destroyed remain habitat though birders have seen some interesting species like black tailed godwit and so on. Hopping   to change this small area as healthy before for for birds and avifauna ie Yellow-breasted Bunting which species is declining rapidly across the globe. 

Ornithological importance 

These places have ecological enrichment for avifauna. Many species of native fishes like barbs and snakeheads are abundant. This is also a habitat of several species of birds and is a unique place for bird watching. Black Kite, Black Drongo, Baya Weaver, Indian Pond Heron, Cattle Egret, Oriental Magpie Robin, Common Myna, Jungle Myna, Spotted Owlet, Large Billed Crow, House Crow, Rose Ring Parakeet, Alexandrian Parakeet, Common Kingfisher, White Throated Kingfisher, Red Vented Bulbul, Swallows and doves, more than 100 species are the resident Birds.

In summer and winter season refuges the several migratory species.  Some of the summer visitors are cuckoos, like Eurasian cuckoo, Asian Koel, White Breasted Water hen, Common Moorhen, lesser whistling Duck, Garganey, Greater Painted Snipe and Jacobin cuckoo. Similarly winter visitors are Raptors, Mallard, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Ferruginous Pochard, Common Pochard, Ruddy Shell Duck and Great Cormorant.

In Very lately week small Pratincole was sighted after about two centuries. 

Rivers, lake and marshy shores and such kinds of natural elements offer the very important ecological and ornithological environment for visitors and researchers.

Awareness:

To keep preserved those ecologically important refuges of birds.  Local people must be aware about the importance and its conservation of its natural environmental feature. Even the unit of local government, stakeholders, birders, researchers and bird conservation Nepal must get together to handle concrete plans to conserve their habitat with proper and effective way.

this article was published in The republica Daily on 18 oct .2021