Population status and species diversity off wetland birds in the Rapti and Narayani rivers and associated wetlands off Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Abstract

In autumn and winter, 24 migratory waterffowl species ffrom the north uilise the wetlands off Chitwan Naional Park, which provide vital staging, roosing, resing, fforaging and breeding places. The birds stay ffor about eight months beffore returning north in March and April. These birds are indicators off healthy wetlands, and they distribute nutrients through their droppings that increase primary producion off aquaic vegetaion and ish. A populaion census off wetland birds was conducted during January 2014 in Chitwan Naional Park on the Rapi and Narayani rivers and associated wetlands, including Lami Tal, Tamor Tal, Garud Tal, Devi Tal and marshes and lakes around Temple Tiger. The study ffound that the Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna fferruginea was the migratory waterffowl with the largest populaion in these rivers.