Aqua Birds Unlimited Camp is the First
Eco-lodge in Nepal approved by Green
Globe Organization. Spread in 10 acres
of private pristine wetland, Aqua Birds
is located on the border of Koshi Tappu
Wildlife Reserve which is a Ramsar Site
listed by the International Wetland
Convention. The hotel offers excellent
tented camp with incredible sighting of
wetland birds congregation in thousands.
This is the last stronghold of the Asian
Wild Buffalo and Gangetic Dolphin in
Nepal.
Aqua Birds Unlimited Camp in Koshi Tappu
Wildlife Reserve - It lies on the flood
plains of the Sapta-Koshi in Saptari and
Sunsari Districts of Eastern Nepal.
Rapid and complete inundation of the
reserve to depths ranging from 10 to 300
cm occurs during the monsoon. The
reserve offers important habitat for a
variety of wildlife. The last surviving
populations (about 100 individuals) of
wild buffalo or arna are found here
including other mammals. A total of 280
different species or birds have been
recorded. Amidst the jungle environment
Aqua Birds Unlimited Camp and Koshi
Tappu Wildlife Camp have come into
existence. The activities includes
morning jungle treks by the river
lagoons and wetlands, canoe ride, slide
shows, bird watching, cultural dances
and visit unique village settlements.
Aqua Birds Unlimited Camp has been
successfully running on its 10th year of
operation despite the current political
situation. We extend our gratitude to
our valuable guests who have been our
inspiration behind successful
operations. Aqua Birds Unlimited Camp is
now a member of KGH Group of Hotels and
Resorts, a trusted business house with
40 years of experience in hospitality
industry.
Were overwhelmed by the response from
our guests, who sincerely acknowledged
our warm hospitality, knowledgeable
staff, delicious food, and richness of
birds, stunning dolphins, and mighty
Wild Water Buffalos, common leopard,
wolves and wild tusker. Within a decade
our camp proved a must visit destination
for bird watching safari, sport fishing
and cultural tour. Koshi Tappu Migratory
Annual Bird Festival that I have started
six years ago is still going strong.
For your kind information we
participated in the British Bird
Watching Fair in 2005 and shall be
taking part in 2006 too. If you are
visiting the fair it will be a pleasure
to meet you in our stall. We shall be
sharing a stall with Classic Journeys,
our local partner in UK . May we request
you to recommend us to your friends,
tour operators, research institutions,
bird watching and fishing clubs so that
they will also have an opportunity to
experience the memorable hospitality at
Aqua Birds Unlimited Camp.
Located on plain of the Koshi River in
the eastern Terai of Nepal, the Koshi
Tappu Wildlife Reserve (175 sq km) is
home to around 441 species of birds,
including 30 shore birds, 114 water
birds, 20 ducks and 2 ibises. The
endangered swamp partridge and Bengal
florican are also found here. The Koshi
is an extremely important resting-place
for migratory birds numbering o 87
winter visitors.
The Koshi river which forms the major
landmark of the Nepalese geography is
the home of 80 fish species. The
endangered Gharial crocodile and
Gangetic dolphin are also found here.
Koshi is an exclusive reserve for the
last surviving population of wild
buffalo or arna in Nepal . Its number at
present is estimated to be 150. The
reserve is a habitat of 20 other animal
species such as hog deer, spotted deer,
wild boar, blue bull and rock python.
The vegetation in this region mainly
includes tall khar-pater grasslands with
a few patches of khair-sissoo scrub
forest and deciduous mixed riverine
forest.
During the monsoon, the reserve is
flooded with depths ranging from 10 to
300 cm.
From season to season the Koshi
River changes its course. The Koshi
river also know as the Sapta Koshi
meaning seven great rivers collects
waters from the glaciers, glacial lakes,
and the monsoon rains. Embankments are
constructed parallel to the river to
check flooding in the surrounding
villages. Sunsets over the river are
phenomenal. On clear days, views of the
Himalayan peaks including the Mt Makalu
add beauties to the landscape.
Recognizing its global significance, the
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve has been
recognized as the Ramsar Site in 1987.
The reserve was gazette notified in
1976.
Bird watching along the eastern
embankment at dusk and dawn is one of
the most exciting pleasure trips in the
reserve. The Arnas with their huge horns
are equally impressive to look at.
Elephant ride, nature walk, driving
along the embankment and strolling
around the villages are interesting
activities
Birdlife in
Nepal
Nepal supports over 10% of the world's
bird species diversity. To-date about
860 bird species has been recorded from
Nepal in the last 150 years. The
corresponding altitude and habitat in
the five physiographic zones including
special sites such as Mai Valley , Rara
Ringmo finger and western Terai
contributed to the bird species richness
in Nepal . Kali Gandaki Valley lies in
the cross road of bird distribution. It
is the culminating point for the
distribution of Eastern species such as
blood pheasant and western species e.g.
Cheer pheasant. Pokhara valley and the
surrounding is where all the eight
vulture species occurring in Nepal are
found.
Lammergeier's wing span measure over 3
meters that helps them to soar over the
Himalayan valleys and peaks. The tallest
includes the Sarus Crane measuring close
to two meter tall. The heavier bird may
include Cinereous Vulture that may weigh
over 10 kg. The smallest include the
Tickell's Flowerpecker that measure just
about the size of the thumb. The most
colorful bird may include the national
bird Danfe (Himalayan Munal) of Himalaya
and Peacock of tropical forest. The
specialized feeding habit of birds
include the piscivorous, nectarines,
bone marrow eaters, filter feeders, seed
eaters and carnivores.
Spiny Babbler is the only endemic
species recorded for Nepal . The Central
Himalayan Endemic Bird Area as defined
by Birdlife International lies entirely
within Nepal . Its key habitats are
moist temperate forest, dense secondary
growth and scrub. Six of the 22
restricted range species in this endemic
bird area are recorded in Nepal : Rufous-throated
Wren Babbler, Wedge-billed Wren Babbler,
Hoary-throated Barwing, White-naped
Yuhina, Yellow-vented Warbler and
Broad-billed Warbler.
The colorful Danfe (Lophophorus
impejanus) have been declared as the
national bird. Nine species have been
given legal protected status that
include three pheasant spp. (Danfe,
Monal and Cheer), two stork species
(black white stork), two florican (bengal
and lesser), Sarus Crane, Giant
Hornbill, and there are 29 globally
threatened species occurring in Nepal.
That includes Swamp Partridge, Cheer
Pheasant, Bengal and Lesser Florican,
Sarus Crane, Wood Snipe, White-rumped
and Slender Billed Vulture, Lesser
adjutant, Grey Crowned Prinia, Bristled
Grassbird, Jerdon's and Slender Billed
Babbler and Finn Weaver. Baer's Pochard,
Imperial Eagle, Pallas's Fish Eagle,
Greater Spotted Eagle, and Hodgson's
bush Chat
are migratory and rarely
occurs in Nepal . Lesser Kestrel and
Kashmir Flycatcher are uncommon passage
migrants. Spot-billed Pelican
occasionally visits wetlands of Koshi
Tappu. Rufous necked Hornbill,
White-bellied Heron and Black-breasted
Parrotbill have been extirpated from
Nepal and Pink Headed Duck is presumed
Extinct.
There are transcontinental and
altitudinal migration of birds in Nepal
. The pronounced migratory species are
Demoiselle Cranes above kali Gandaki,
Bar-headed Geese that flies over Mt.
Everest , Steppe Eagle along with other
birds of prey fly over the Suinkhet
valley near Pokhara, The famous
wintering area for the wetland birds are
Koshi Tappu, Chitwan and Karnali.
Beeshazar, Jagadishpur and Ghodaghodi
Lakes are the newly listed Ramsar Sites
that provide wintering site for duck and
other waders. There are about 150 winter
migrants residing in forest and
wetlands. The summer migrants (about 62)
include cuckoos, crow-billed drongo,
pitta, Chestnut headed bee-eater etc.
The famous bird watching sites of Nepal
are Shivapuri and Phulchowki hills
surrounding Kathmandu, Pokhara and Modi
Valley of Annapurna Sanctuary, Langtang
Valley , Arun Basin , Royal Chitwan
National Park , Bardia, Shukla and the
wetlands of Koshi Tappu, and Jomsom.
Introduction
From season to season the Koshi
River changes its course. The Koshi
river also know as the Sapta Koshi
meaning seven great rivers collects
waters from the glaciers, glacial lakes,
and the monsoon rains. Embankments are
constructed parallel to the river to
check flooding in the surrounding
villages. Sunsets over the river are
phenomenal. On clear days, views of the
Himalayan peaks including the Mt Makalu
add beauties to the landscape.
are migratory and rarely
occurs in Nepal . Lesser Kestrel and
Kashmir Flycatcher are uncommon passage
migrants. Spot-billed Pelican
occasionally visits wetlands of Koshi
Tappu. Rufous necked Hornbill,
White-bellied Heron and Black-breasted
Parrotbill have been extirpated from
Nepal and Pink Headed Duck is presumed
Extinct.