Pokhara, July 3

Pokhara Bird Society has organised a three-day bird fair that began today in Pokhara, Kaski.

The society organised the fair with the aim of conserving various species of birds around Pokhara and promoting avian tourism in the country.

The fair will conclude on July 5. Various organisations working in the field of bio-diversity and ecology, bird and tourism experts have participated in the fair.

Chair of Pokhara Bird Society Man Shanta Ghimire said at least eight per cent of tourists visiting Nepal every year come to watch birds.

Stating that those tourists who come to visit Nepal for bird watching stay longer and spend more than the trekkers and other tourists, Ghimire urged the government and tourism entrepreneurs to promote bird tourism.

The number of migrant birds from Siberia to lakes in Kaski is declining every year. Destruction of Fewa wetlands, lakes getting buried and encroachment of lake areas, among other factors, have posed serious threats to different species of birds,” regretted Hemanta Dhakal, secretary of Pokhara Bird Society. He also said that the fair was held to conserve birds’ habitat and birds themselves. “It will also help to promote bird tourism in Pokhara,” he added.

Bird experts and tourism experts are to make different presentations about birds, their habitats and conservation during the fair.

Training for bird guides, photo exhibition of birds, bio-diversity and ecology and inter-school poetry recitation, among other programmes, are to be held during the three-day bird fair.

Bird guide Shesh Kanta Sharma said that a large number of tourists from China, Malaysia and Thailand visit Nepal to watch birds and take photographs every year.