March 5: Increasing pollution and haphazard use of pesticides in crops have contributed to the decline in the number of birds in the Koshitappu Wildlife Reserve (KWR) and its vicinity. Stakeholders said human activities have caused loss of birds' habitats.    
The Mid-Winter Water Birds Census, 2024 has recorded the number of birds at 5,527. They were 53 species of birds. The number last year was 7,573 and the species were 56.    
Although new species of birds arrive every year in Nepal, both the number and species declined this year, said Birendra Gautam, chief of Koshi Conservation Office under the National Nature Conservation Trust.    
The result of the bird census conducted for five days since January 10 was made public on the World Wetland Day.    

Most of the birds are of duck species- 848. The birds dependent on water are facing shortage of wetlands, which have deprived them of habitat, Gautam added.    
Gautam further claimed, "Severe decline in number of birds is directly related to expanding human settlement and unwarranted activities."    
The marshlands are now turned into motorable roads. It is grave threat to the birds. The marshland used to welcome the birds even from Siberia, Russia.    
As the human activities were contained in the wake of COVID-19, the census had witnessed huge rise in the avian presence. There were 9,289 birds in 2019.    
Nepal witnesses the arrival of migratory birds from mid-September to mid-December every year, who arrive here to avoid the harsh winter in the northern hemisphere.  
The KWR located at the tri-junction of Sunsari, Saptari and Udayapur districts is a birds' haven. Some 50 species of migratory birds leave for India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka via Nepal.    

The avian migration makes transit to various other areas such as Chitwan National Park, Bishajari Lake, Jagdishpur Lake, Ghodaghodi Lake, Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve and tributaries of the Koshi and Gandaki rivers.    
Thousands of winter birds also arrive in Nepal from southern countries, including Africa for hatching. The winter birds, however, find habitants in forest and nearby grasslands. -- RSS