Birds of Annapurna Conservation Area cGgk"0f{ ;+/If0f If]qsf r/fx? National Trust for Annapurna Conservation Nature Conservation Birds of AnnapurnaArea Conservation Project Area 80 2018 Birds of Annapurna Conservation Area cGgk"0f{ ;+/If0f If]qsf r/fx? National Trust for Annapurna Conservation Nature Conservation Area Project 2018 Birds of Annapurna Conservation Area cGgk"0f{ ;+/If0f If]qsf r/fx? Published by: National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Review Committee Carol Inskipp, Dr. Hem Sagar Baral and Dr. Naresh Subedi Compilation Rishi Baral (Conservation Officer – NTNC-ACAP) Suggested Citation: Baral R., (2018). Birds of Annapurna Conservation Area. National Trust for Nature conservation, Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Pokhara, Nepal pp. 74 All rights reserved © National Trust for Nature Conservation First Edition 700 Copies ISBN: 978-9937-8522-5-8 Front Cover Art: Cheer Pheasant (Catreus wallichii) by Roshan Bhandari Title Page Photo: Nest with Eggs by Rishi Baral Back Cover Photo: Spiny Babbler (Turdoides nipalensis) by Manshanta Ghimire Design and Layout by: Sigma General Offset Press, Kathmandu National Trust for Annapurna Conservation Printed : Sigma General Offset Press, Sanepa, Lalitpur, 5554029 Nature Conservation Area Project 2018 Table of Contents Forewords Acknowledgements Abbreviations Nepal’s Birds Status Birds of Annapurna National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) 1-2 Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) 3-5 Hotspot of Birds in Annapurna Conservation Area 6-7 Threats of Birds found in ACA 8 Birds of Annapurna Conservation Area 10-69 Order: Galliformes 10-11 Order: Anseriformes 12-13 Order: Piciformes 14-15 Order: Upupiformes 16 Order: Trogonformes 16 Order: Coraciiformes 17 Order: Cuculiformes 18 Order: Psittaciformes 19 Order: Apodiformes 20 Order: Strigiformes 21 Order: Columbiformes 22 Order: Gruiformes 23 Order: Ciconiformes 24-34 Order: Passeriformes 35-69 References 70 Additional Species to the checklist 71 Number of Species with Order and Family 72-73 Gangapurna Glacier Lake, Manang © Rishi Baral Birds of Annapurna Conservation Area Birds of Annapurna Conservation Area 4 5 Restructured Ward Boundary of Annapurna Conservation Area Foreword Nepal’s unique habitat provide home to over 878 species of birds- resident as well as migratory species, including the endemic Spiny Babbler. Protected Area system is stretched over 23.39% of total land of Nepal has significant role in providing the natural habitat for these predators, pollinators, scavengers and seed dispersers. In return, all humankind is blessed by the ecosystem services that propagate in presence of these unique creatures. Acquaintance with the birds gives pleasure and motivates to learn deeper with their diverse characteristics, features, and uniqueness. The same reflection can be generated through this book ‘Birds of Annapurna Conservation Area’. This book provides information of more than 500 bird species with hotspots in the Conservation Area. Though it covers bird of Annapurna Conservation Area but the diversity of bird species in the similar geographic regions of Nepal can also be visualized. I believe that this book is an important reference material for the researchers and guide to the trekkers, nature lovers who are passionate to birds and nature. Incorporation of upgraded information has made this publication more significant. I hope that continuation of publication keeping into consideration of timely update will be pursued in the coming days. I would like to congratulate all the researchers; and the review and compilation team members for their efforts to prepare this consolidated book in this form. I specially thank Mr. Rishi Baral, Conservation Officer, NTNC-ACAP for his effort and dedication to bring this book in valuable form to present among wider audiences. ……………………… Man Bahadur Khadka Director General Government of Nepal Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment Province No. 4 Pokhara, Nepal Ref. No. Foreword Annapurna Conservation Area is the largest protected area of Nepal managed by the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC). NTNC was established in 1982 by the legislative act as an autonomous and not-for-profit organization mandated to work in the field of nature conservation in Nepal. Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) was established in 1986 within an area of 7,629 sq. km. After being notified in the Gazette as a ‘Conservation Area’ in 1992, ACAP was first tested as a pilot Program in Ghandruk Village Development Committee (VDC) in 1986. From its success in Ghandruk, the Project was subsequently posited with its total working area to manage and address the multifaceted environmental and socio-economic problems of the entire region. Since then it has been at the vanguard of promoting community-driven conservation concepts at home and abroad through its much regarded ‘Integrated Conservation and Development Programme’ or ICDP approach. The working area of the Project covers 5 districts of Province No 4 with 15 Rural Municipality (Previous 57 Village Development Committees (VDCs). Its natural and cultural features have made it the most popular trekking destination in the country, drawing more than 60 percent of the country’s total trekkers. Although ACAP was established mainly for biodiversity conservation and tourism promotion, the present bird book shows that the region is equally vital for bird habitat. A total of 518 species has been recorded from the area in the book and is expected to serve as the authentic list pertaining to bird information found in ACA. I would like to congratulate all the researchers, the review and compilation team, from the Annapurna Conservation Area Project for their effort in bringing this book into fruition. Through this book, I am confident about the value-addition and benefit this will have for all the concerned people interested in learning more about the beautiful birds of this truly wondrous region. Thank you. ……………………… Buddi Sagar Poudel, PhD Secretary Tel./Fax: 061-5220305, 5220443, E-mail: [email protected] NATIONAL TRUST FOR NATURE CONSERVATION NATIONAL TRUST FOR NATURE CONSERVATION Foreword Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) is the largest undertaking of NTNC and also the first conservation area and largest protected area in Nepal. It covers an area of 7,629 sq. km. and is home to over 100,000 residents of different cultural and linguistic groups. ACAP is rich in biodiversity and is a treasure house for 1,226 spe- cies of flowering plants, 105 mammals, 518 birds, 40 reptiles and 23 amphibians. Covering 5 districts it consists of 7 Conservation Offices (UCOs): Lomangthang, Jomsom and Manang in the northern belt, and Ghandruk, Lwang, Sikles and Bhu- jung in the southern belt. There are several features that make the Annapurna region a unique place in the world. It contains the world’s deepest river gorge - Kali Gandaki Gorge, which is also a valley with fossils from the Tethys Sea dating 60 million years ago. The region has the country’s largest rhododendron forest in Ghorepani. Tilicho Lake located in Manang, north of the Annapurna massif, is the world’s highest altitude fresh water lake. One key indicator of sound ecosystems are birds. All six pheasant species of Ne- pal viz. Blood Pheasant, Koklass Pheasant, Himalayan Monal, Kalij Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan and Cheer Pheasant are found in ACA. The region is also home to some globally threatened species like White-rumped Vulture, Wood Snipe, near-threatened species like Satyr Tragopan, Cinereous and Red-headed Vultures, restricted-range species like Hoary-throated Barwing, White-throated tit and Spectacled Finch, and nationally threatened species like Pygmy Blue Flycatcher, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Black-headed Shrike Babbler, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, and Great and Fulvous Parrotbills. I am thankful to the research team as well as the review members for their effort to bring about this valuable book. I am fully confident that this will serve as an impor- tant resource material for a wide range of target audiences and highlight ACAP as an important site for birds, ultimately promoting ‘bird watching tourism’ in both the national and international context. ………………….. Govinda Gajurel Member Secretary Khumaltar, Lalitpur, P.O. Box : 3712, Kathmandu, Nepal, Tel.: 977-1-5526571, 5526573, 5545635, Fax: 977-1-5526570 E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.ntnc.org.np Khumaltar, Lalitpur, P.O. Box : 3712, Kathmandu, Nepal, Tel.: 977-1-5526571, 5526573, 5545635, Fax: 977-1-5526570 E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.ntnc.org.np Red Cliff of Dhakmar, Upper Mustang © Rishi Baral List of Abbreviation ACA Annapurna Conservation Area ACAP Annapurna Conservation Area Project BCC Biodiversity Conservation Centre BCN Bird Conservation Nepal Foreword BCP Bardia Conservation Program Annapurna Conservation Area Project since its very inception in 1986, has been continu- DNPWC Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation ously working for the maximum conservation, sustainable development and livelihood GCA Gaurishankar Conservation Are enhancement of the local people living in the area. Based on the globally recognized ICDP Integreted Conservation and Development Programme Integrated Conservation and Development Programme (ICDP) model, ACAP has been IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural undertaking every activities being on this framework to pursue the principle of “Conser- Resources vation for Development”.