Black-shouldered Kite Let me introduce briefly about the raptors of Nepal. Nepal is rich in biodiversity that supports 59 species of diurnal raptors and 20 species of owls. They play vital role in sustaining livelihoods in Nepalese village life having societies dependent on agriculture by helping to control agricultural vermin so they act as 'farmers friends'. They are vital indicator species sitting at the top of food chain and play a large role in indicating the health of ecosystems and services they provide. World population of 14 % of all diurnal raptors are globally endangered or vulnerable. The severe decline in raptor population is due to a number of factors including pesticide poisoning, shooting, nest site destruction, habitat alteration and direct persecution by humans. These are the most common reasons for the globally endangered status of raptors. In Nepal, threats to raptors are severe. Pesticides are heavily used in agriculture dominated landscape w...

Steppe Eagle (Sub Adult) We propose to do the first full season study of migrating Steppe Eagles and other raptors, including several critically endangered vulture species, in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains in central Nepal. This Project has been awarded by Nagao Natural Environmental Foundation, Japan. Also we received Equipment support from Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, USA and Idea Wild. Dr Robert DeCandido- a senior raptor biologist is helping and supervises this project. Monitoring of regional populations from a “watch site” is an effective means to assess population trends for a number of species. We will identify, count, and whenever possible, age and sex migrants on an hourly basis beginning in September through December for five (2012-2016). Since the early 1980s, only a handful of partial season counts have been completed at this location, and estimates have ranged from 10,000 to 40,000 Steppe Eagles migrating here each autumn, as well as 15 to 30 different rapto...

Status and record of Haliaeetus albicilla White-tailed Eagle in Nepal Globally threatened status: Near-threatened Nationally threatened status: CR C2a(i), D1 Rare winter visitor and passage migrant; formerly a scarce and local but regularly recorded winter visitor up to 915 m (-1370 m). The maximum of four seen at Koshi in February 1989 (Kennerley and Turnbull 1989) and February 1994 (Cottridge et al. 1994); one or two recorded there regularly (Badri Chaudhary verbally 2010) e.g. in February 2000 (Choudhary 2000a, Basnet 2000a), December 2001 (Naylor et al. 2002a), November 2002 (Basnet 2002b), February 2003 (Chaudhary 2003b), February 2004 (Choudhary 2004), March 2005 (van der Dol 2005), April 2006 (GC 2010), December 2007 (Chaudhary 2007b), January 2008 (Tribe 2008) and winters of 2009 and 2010 (Badri Chaudhary verbally 2010). In 1979 seven birds were seen at four Nepal localities (Lambert 1979, Redman and Murphy 1979...

This May, temperature is unusually  high in Pokhara. The high temperature make uncomfortable from the early morning that bite a lot during the whole day in field and mostly T-Storms and showers in the evening hours makes to come down the temperature.  Carcass of the domestic ungulates is common food for vulture, which is dry off very quickly and hardens enough for vulture to eat. Sometimes river carries some carcasses and waste food for vulture, therefore we can see the vultures looking for food along the river corridor.   To escape from the high midday temperature, it is better to start field work early in the morning, say 7:00 am. Few species of raptors are frequently seen around Pokhara. Most numerous are the Black Kites. Of Course! Those are the common raptor seen everywhere in the country. However good flight of vulture is also seen. Red-Headed Vulture (Sub-Adult)  Adult Most of the Himalayan vulture might have to return back to the ...

Common Kestrel (juvenile female) Peregrine Falcon  Black Kite Peregrine Falcon  with prey Eurasian Hobby Black Eagle Black Kite Bonelli's Eagle Booted Eagle (dark morph) Changeable Hawk-eagle Common Buzzard Oriental Honey-buzzard Eurasian Sparrowhawk Shikra Indian Spotted Eagle Mountain Hawk-eagle Short-toed  Eagle Steppe Eagle (Sub-adult) Steppe Eagle (Adult) Black Shouldered Kite Common Kestrel (perched) Common Kestrel (in flight) Crested Serpent Eagle Pied Harrier (male) Eurasian Sparrowhawk White-eyed Buzzard

Out of 23 species found in the world, Nepal has 9 species of vulture including 5 globally threatened species Himalayan Vulture, May 2012 in Kapurkot, Salyan Egyptian Vulture (Immature), March 2012 in Pokhara Himalayan vulture Himalayan vulture Himalayan vulture White rumped vulture White rumped vulture Slender-billed vulture Indian vulture By Robert Red headed vulture Red headed vulture Cinereous vulture Cinereous vulture Egyptian vulture Bearded vulture Griffon vulture Pair of Slender-billed vulture with nest