Bird species abound in Neora National Park

SNS, 30 April 2019, Siliguri: More than 100 species of birds were sighted at an altitude of around 7,500 feet above sea level during a bird watching camp recently.
Threatened at other places, the birds were spotted at Choudafery in the Neora Valley National Park, which is considered as a paradise for birds and known for its avian fauna. Organisers of the camp and ornithologists believe that the lack of disturbances in the area may be the reason for the significant number of birds to be found there.
The 13th annual bird watching camp was organized by the Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation (HNAF), in association with the state forest departmet. The four-day camp started from 21 March.

"The purpose of the camp was to find out the population, distribution, habitat preferences, the conservation and protect ion of birds. This camp also helped spread awareness, to study the situation of bird habitats, their condition. The 13th annual bird watching camp was organised at Choudafery, which is located around 7,500 feet above the sea level in Kalimpong district," programme coordinator for HNAF and a conservationist Animesh Bose, said.
Around 25 ornithologists across the state participated in the camp. Mr Bose said they relied on direct sighting and call counts to arrive at their conclusions.
"Wefound more than 105 species of birds during the camp at Choudafery this yea r.We have observed that them has been no large-scale human interference in the area, which is generally unusual with other national parks," he said.

Among the birds are the beautiful Nuthatch, Black-erred shrike babbler, Black-throated parrotbil, Brown bullfinch, Brown parrotbill. Grey chinned minivet, Hill partridge, Himalayan cutia, Himalayan wood owl, Rufous breasted accentor, Scaley breasted wren babbler, Satyr trago pan, Scaly breasted wren babbler, White browed shortwing,Winter wren,Yellow browed tit, and the vulture-like Himalayan griffon.
The organisers said the figure was impressive when the existence of the birds had come under threat at many places with the increase in human disturbances and destruction of habitats.
Five of the participants were women, along with doctors, teachers and lawyers, who took part in the camp as avid birdwatchers.