Wetlands in Nepal, particularly around Lumbini, have seen a notable decline in migratory and resident waterbird populations, as revealed by a recent waterbird census. These wetlands serve as crucial wintering grounds for birds migrating from cold regions such as Russia, Mongolia, Siberia, and northern China. Every year, the Nepal Bird Conservation Association conducts a census to monitor bird populations, and this year’s survey, conducted from January 4 to 19, showed alarming results.
In Lumbini, the bird population has dropped drastically from 2,050 individuals across 22 species in 2024 to just 735 individuals across 9 species this year. Thirteen species that were recorded last year were completely absent in this year’s count. Similarly, Gajedi Lake saw a decline from 161 birds last year to only 78 this year, although the number of species increased from 4 to 10.
Hariharpur Lake experienced the most drastic decrease, with bird numbers falling from 603 individuals across 18 species in 2024 to just 11 individuals across 5 species this year. However, some wetlands recorded an increase in bird populations. Jagdishpur Lake in Kapilvastu, the largest waterbird habitat in the region, reported a rise of 1,548 birds compared to last year. In 2024, the lake hosted 8,869 birds across 43 species, while this year’s count recorded 10,417 birds across 44 species, with the red-crested pochard added to the species list. Similarly, Gaidahawa Lake in Rupandehi also saw an increase, with bird numbers rising from 287 (22 species) last year to 954 individuals (26 species) this year.
Experts attribute the decline in waterbirds to multiple factors, including habitat destruction, human encroachment, and climate change. The expansion of human settlements and construction of infrastructure in wetland areas have disturbed bird habitats, reducing available nesting and feeding grounds.
Activities such as boating and fish farming in lakes like Gaidahawa have made these sites less suitable for waterbirds. Additionally, global climate change is influencing migration patterns. Traditionally, birds from Siberia, Mongolia, and China migrated to Nepal in winter because their home wetlands froze over. However, due to changing temperatures, some of these wetlands no longer freeze, allowing birds to remain in their native habitats rather than migrate south.
The decline in wetland bird populations is not limited to Nepal but is also observed in neighboring India. Experts are raising alarms over the continuous drop in migratory birds, stressing the negative impact on biodiversity. Jagdishpur Lake, which once hosted over 20,000 birds in 2020, has seen a dramatic decrease in bird numbers. In 2021 alone, 8,744 birds vanished, leaving only 12,063 birds recorded. Since then, the population has continued to decline. While this year’s count showed a slight increase, the numbers remain significantly lower than previous levels, highlighting an ongoing and serious environmental concern.
Conservationists stress the urgent need for protective measures to safeguard Nepal’s wetlands. They advocate for stricter regulations to limit human activities in sensitive areas, improved management of fish farming and tourism, and enhanced international cooperation to research and address the evolving migration patterns of waterbirds. These efforts are crucial to preserving the ecological balance and ensuring the survival of waterbird populations in the region.
Bird experts like Ishwari Prasad Chaudhary suggest that Nepal’s wetland bird decline is not an isolated phenomenon but part of a larger regional trend. As climate change alters natural ecosystems, migratory patterns are shifting, and birds are finding alternative habitats. The decrease in waterbirds in Nepal highlights the need for a broader, international effort to study and protect these species. Without intervention, Nepal’s wetlands may lose their status as critical wintering grounds for migratory birds, affecting both biodiversity and the ecological balance of these habitats.
