Kathmandu Bird Watching Tour Review: Is it Worth it?

So, are you even a little curious about taking a bird-watching tour around Kathmandu? Perhaps, like your’s truly, you might have thought bird watching was a thing only serious nature buffs get into. But honestly, it turns out that Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley is such a surprising hotspot for all kinds of birds. Getting out there with a guide just may open your eyes. I thought I’d give you all the details on what the tour is really like, maybe some bits that aren’t mentioned everywhere else, and whether you just might find it something fun. Hopefully, I can give you some insight, from what I’ve experienced myself, at any rate.

Why Kathmandu Valley is a Birdwatcher’s Paradise

Okay, so you’re picturing Kathmandu, and probably it’s the ancient temples and the very, very lively markets, right? It’s also quite true that it’s surrounded by green hills, a little like an amphitheater of sorts, and that makes it unusually fantastic for birds. The valley is so rich in habitat diversity—there’s forests, wetlands, and grasslands, very closely located with each other. The birds find it just about perfect as they are migrating; lots stop here. You might see the migratory birds traveling from Siberia. How cool is that?

As a matter of fact, bird watching here really helps conserve habitat. It means protecting these sites, so tourists are interested and the birds get some peace and quiet, very crucial for preserving their existence, actually.

Booking Your Bird Watching Tour

Usually you could book a bird-watching tour ahead of time online. There seem to be quite a few different companies that do this, really. When I went looking, I was searching for tours that provided a knowledgeable guide, transportation to prime birding spots, and potentially even included equipment like binoculars, so it’s a good idea to see that, actually. For someone who is traveling solo, tours that take small groups just might be perfect, actually.

It could be quite interesting if you make sure to check reviews or ratings before you finally book. Look for what others say about how well the guides know their stuff. You could check to see whether or not others found their guide to be just about informative or very, very engaged, right? Check out how helpful their service and how comfortable they made their experience, too, too!

What to Expect on the Tour Day

Okay, here’s the deal. Your guide will probably pick you up pretty early from the hotel; prime bird-watching is best done as the day begins, while the sun isn’t even too hot. Bring with you—so you’re ready, of course—comfortable clothing. Layering it up just a little may be needed because mornings can get really cool, actually.

You also must have good walking shoes with you, seriously. Most locations are pretty smooth, but walking may be included! Bringing binoculars—very crucial to getting a close look, if you can’t get hold of those then it is typically part of most of the packages I know of anyway. Be certain your tour group brings one just for you.

Just think of this as a slow-paced trek out there in nature and the expert is going to do all of the spotting. They really just know calls for different birds and behavior as they see it, then share this knowledge. Even for the uninitiated it’s really, really neat as a walk through the quiet natural environment. A chance just to take it all in is pretty valuable, frankly.

Prime Bird Watching Spots in Kathmandu Valley

Here’s the skinny on the main bird watching spots. Taudaha Lake is just a tranquil lake just outside Kathmandu. Lots of waterbirds make this one their home—that’s the place where bird watchers will probably see lots and lots of species pretty quickly.

Godavari Botanical Garden is situated at the base of a very lush hill, a habitat that hosts many different types of birds. This area would be where you’d probably spot flycatchers or eagles.

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park: If you would rather get more physical activity, your tour just might incorporate a longer walk through the very dense national park. It’s pretty exciting and very satisfying when you finally spot the bird.

What Kind of Birds Will You See?

So, you will spot a lot of species here. It is usually quite dependent on when you go out during the year. Bird migrations typically bring the more cool stuff that isn’t very common.

You can expect to watch for species like the Great Egret, Steppe Eagle, Kalij Pheasant, and the Nepal’s national bird—the Impheyan Pheasant. Lots of flycatchers. In all honesty I found the whole tour really pretty good from a photographer’s perspective.

Do note the level of experience with birds that is assumed on a tour differs a lot. Several tours could be quite accepting of people that might not really even know that much when they’re getting there; but some tour guides have certain expectations that everyone on board may understand particular terminologies. This just may mean you can easily do tours no matter what experience.

The Role of Your Guide

It is a serious advantage to have someone know this area just like the back of their hand when out on the lookout for the birds. Their knowledge is pretty keen for calls of the different birds that most novices usually just couldn’t hope for in identifying birds simply, actually. Guides are so knowledgeable about the specific habitats where species prefer; they give everyone in the group really specific locations. They would also share stories or interesting facts which very, very few folks that live locally ever even knew.

Environmental and Ethical Considerations

An ethical guide must tell his participants something regarding sustainability so the impact is minimal. This usually includes staying with the paths already there so you’re not hurting ground habitat, right? Most tour guides do not really approve of disturbing a nesting habitat or frightening bird species unnecessarily in any way, and are very careful not to damage their fragile home.

Keep an eye out when your tour does actually promote this “don’t disturb” principle to ensure these tourism experiences benefit and really promote conserving nature, and the different ecological conservation efforts ongoing on these specific locations, or pretty near.

What to Bring on Your Bird Watching Tour

Therefore, consider equipping yourself, so the whole bird watching trip may be quite seamless. Layers may be necessary in some conditions given temperature variability in weather situations. Make sure walking footwear could provide great ankle supporting protection from very uneven grounds if it’s required, even only a little.

Binoculars are basically what really gives an outstanding close and great watching encounter with nature. For a long and bright sun day make certain sunscreens could very, very efficiently protect especially sensitive and susceptible faces. Last, it would only be wise to have some water and light bite stuff. So it would typically be an incredibly and pleasantly seamless walking exercise which doesn’t give unneeded fatigue from some minor preventable factors.

Photography Tips for Bird Watching

Actually, some simple recommendations may let you make more fantastic nature shoots while your visit. Utilize fast shutter to then freeze the fast and quick flight birds at that very, very specific moment. Having an ideal zoom helps to approach pretty shy birds, without scaring it almost too much or intrude the habitats.

Think of getting birds during morning’s quite gentle light that makes all colors quite glowing—not to ever be understated! You really would desire to concentrate carefully regarding the composition, with foreground blurred so it’s now distracting things. When they turn at an unexpected place or they just give something that simply occurs—wait and don’t hesitate when special things would soon occur. A nature outing may definitely make all moments the top in photographing with little and careful preparation, to fully grasp opportunities.

Don’t assume all camera zoom devices were equivalent if you use bridge cam. See its specific magnification in contrast of expensive interchangeable lenses so your expectation of result are more appropriate and you avoid discontent when the zoom picture is pixelated badly. Some cellphone cam today’s, might perform very admirably well, or are much better than years old pro camera!

Is a Guided Bird Watching Tour Worth It?

Well for people like yourself and myself that don’t actually possess specialized expertise or understand what to look in habitats. These types experiences really increase chance on sightings or have an educational encounter to a very greater amount, basically.

If you simply think its advantageous getting the logistical facets regarding trips and moving is something to take in a bundled package. These group travels are worthwhile, to minimize your pressure over preparation stages! To basically have a bit trip to have close observations to mother nature with specialist tips are truly pretty amazing too!

What I Learned and Next Time?

Therefore, now I totally see Kathmandu is actually much cooler being a bird watching site. I learned such a lot that trips makes things pretty different as being with someone proficient than without such tips during the walk—particularly that having proper binoculars lets folks spot lots with minimum straining!

I consider, next outing of this thing I’ll take on getting better binoculars when they are quite better for seeing objects extremely remotely—so this provides an elevated ability with bird identifications that could barely happen usually using zoom and ordinary eyes view. I consider birding provides amazing opportunity simply when planning on vacations which presents relaxed atmosphere and amazing educational lessons almost!

Ultimately bird observations during trips, make moments more unique and lets people connect intimately on environmental considerations. These have created my personal adventure very rewarding! Hopefully more folks will check out Nepal during bird viewing! It might turn that Nepal will give pretty exciting things awaiting nature watchers even only somewhat from central attractions; so you wouldn’t overlook them whenever within trips!

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