Bird-habitat associations at Maidi Lake and adjacent wetlands, Kaski, Nepal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3126/njes.v13i2.80352Keywords:
Bird habitat, waterbirds, wetlands, wetland conservationAbstract
Bird-habitat relationships were evaluated at Maidi Lake, Nepal, one of nine lakes in the Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley Ramsar Site. Eleven distinct habitats were identified within the lake and its immediate surroundings, and the frequency of use of each habitat by different bird species was recorded across all four seasons during repeated surveys along a fixed route that facilitated views of the entire lake area. All surveys were conducted during the morning peak of bird activity. Forty species of birds used at least one wetland habitat, with the highest seasonal species richness in winter and spring. Every habitat was used by multiple species in each season. This appears to be the first study in Nepal to examine bird-habitat relationships at such a fine scale in a wetland ecosystem. The results show the critical link between bird conservation and habitat protection, helping to focus conservation planning and achieve the goals of the Ramsar management plan.
Downloads
References
Adhikari, J.N., Bhattarai, B.P., & Dhakal, D.N. (2018). Conservation value of Beeshhazari Lake: an insight into diversity and abundance of wetland birds. Our Nature, 16, 17–26. https://doi.org/10.3126/on.v16i1.21563.
Adhikari, J.N., Khatiwada, J.R., Adhikari D., Sapkota S, Bhattari B.P., Rijal D., & Sharma L.N. (2022). Comparison of bird diversity in protected and non-protected wetlands of western lowland of Nepal. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 14, 20311. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.2022.14.1.20311-20538.
APHA. (1999). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 20th edition. American Public Health Association.
Baral, H. S. (2005). Birds of Koshi (1st ed). DNPWC, Kathmandu.
Baral, H.S. (2009). Status of Nepal’s wetland birds. Banko Janakari, 19(3), 30-35. https://doi.org/10.3126/banko.v19i3.2209.
Basaula, R. (2023). Effects of water hyacinth on fish diversity and abundance in the lake cluster of Pokhara Valley, Nepal. Global Ecology and Conservation, 46, e02565.
Basaula, R., Singh, O., & Gautam, R. (2021). Seasonal variation on the abundance and diversity of waterbirds in Phewa wetland Pokhara, Nepal. Zoo Journal, 6, 24-34. https://doi.org/10.3126/zooj.v6i1.58702.
Basaula, R., Singh, O., & Dahal, B. (2023). Abundance and diversity of waterbirds around the Begnas Lake of Pokhara Valley, Nepal. Global Journal of Ecology, 8, 11–18. https://doi.org/10.17352/gje.000076.
Bhandari, B.B. (2008). Wise use of Wetlands in Nepal. Banko Janakari, 19(3), 10-17. https://doi.org/10.3126/banko.v19i3.2206.
Bhusal, K., Rana, D., Joshi, A., Chaudhary, P., Ghimire, P., & Pandey, M. (2020). Diversity and abundance of winter wetland birds in Jagdishpur Reservoir Ramsar Site, Kapilvastu, Nepal. Danphe, 29(1), 1-13.
Dhakal, H., Ghimire, M., Poudel, A., Ghimire, P., & Bhusal, K. (2020). Avian diversity of Khaste Lake Complex, Pokhara Valley, Nepal. Minivet 3, 17–25.
Gauli S., Dhakal M., Khanal R. (2016). Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley. Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and IUCN Nepal. Kathmandu.
Gautam, R., & Kafle G. (2008). A preliminary survey of waterbirds in Phewa Lake, Kaski. Bird Conservation Nepal. Newsletter, 6-8.
Giri, B., & Chalise, M. (2008). Seasonal diversity and population status of waterbirds in Phewa Lake, Pokhara, Nepal. Journal of Wetland Ecology, 1(1), 3-7. https://doi.org/10.3126/jowe.v1i1.1568.
Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C., Inskipp, T., & Baral, H. (2016). Birds of Nepal. Bloomsbury Publishing.
IUCN Nepal. (2004). A review of the status and threats to wetlands in Nepal. IUCN Nepal.
Joshi, D. (2020). Knowledge and learning documentation of Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley (LCPV). Final Report. World Wildlife Fund. Kathmandu.
Kharel, M. (2018). A preliminary study on birdlife of Betana Wetland, Belbari, Morang District, SE-Nepal. SOJ Veterinary Sciences, 4, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.15226/2381-2907/4/3/00162.
Khatri, N.D., Neupane, B., Timilsina, Y.P., & Ghimire, S. (2019). Assessment of avifaunal diversity and threats to them in Phewa Wetland, Nepal. Journal of Institute of Forestry, 16, 31–47.
Lamsal, P., Pant, K.P., Kumar, L., & Atreya, K. (2014). Diversity, uses, and threats in the Ghodaghodi Lake Complex, a Ramsar Site in Western Lowland Nepal. ISRN Biodiversity 2014, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/680102.
Li, L., Liu, Y., Wang, H., Zhu, Y., Li, Y., Xu, C., & Teng, S.N. (2024). Effects of surrounding landscape context on threatened wetland bird diversity at the Global Scale. Diversity, 16(12), 738. https://doi.org/10.3390/d16120738.
Ma, Z., Cai, Y., Li, B., & Chen, J. (2010). Managing wetland habitats for waterbirds: An international perspective. Wetlands, 30, 15–27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-009-0001-6.
Magar, M. (2023). Assessment of bird habitats, use preference, and threats in Maidi Lake Area, Pokhara, Nepal. Bachelor's Thesis. Tribhuvan University, Pokhara.
Matthews, G.V.T. (1993). The Ramsar Convention on wetlands: its history and development. Ramsar Convention Bureau, Gland, Switzerland. ISBN: 2-940073-00-7.
MoFE. (2018). Integrated Lake Basin Management Plan of Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley, Nepal (2018-2023). Ministry of Forests and Environment, Kathmandu.
OPENGIS.ch (2023). Qfield (version 2.5.7). Accessed 2 Jan 2023 from https://qfield.org.
Pant, S.R., Bhattarai, B.P., Baral, H.S., & Thapa, T.B. (2024). Diversity, species richness, and community composition of wetland birds in the lowlands of western Nepal. Ecological and Evolution, 14(12), e70538. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70538.
Parajuli, K. (2022). Assessment of bird diversity and abundance in Karra River Basin, Hetauda, Makawanpur. International Research Journal of MMC, 3, 18–33. https://doi.org/10.3126/irjmmc.v3i3.48630.
Pathak, H., Shrestha, B., Bhuju, D.R., & Bhandari, P. (2020). Floristic diversity in the Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley, Central Nepal. Journal Natural History Museum, 31(1), 1–32. https://doi.org/10.3126/jnhm.v31i1.39371.
Pathak, H.N., Bhuju, D.R., Shrestha, B.B., & Ranjitkar, S. (2021). Impacts of invasive alien plants on ecosystem services of Ramsar lake cluster in middle mountain Nepal. Global Ecology and Conservation, 27, e01597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01597.
Poudel A.K., Magar M.B., & Byrd G.V. in press. Seasonal abundance, species richness and diversity of birds at Maidi Lake, Nepal. Nepalese Journal of Zoology.
Shrestha, S., Dahal, A., Joshi, A.B., Thapa, V.K., & Shrestha, M.B. (2023). Assemblage of waterbirds in wetlands of Kathmandu Valley. Danphe, 3, 1–8.
Siwakoti, M., & Karki, J.B. (2010). Conservation status of Ramsar sites of Nepal tarai: an overview. Botanica Orientalis: Journal of Plant Science, 6, 76–84. https://doi.org/10.3126/botor.v6i0.2914.
Subedi, B. (2006). Wetland bird diversity of Rupa Lake. MS Thesis, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu.
Sullivan, B.L., Wood, C.L., Iliff, M.J., Bonney, R.E., Fink, D., & Kelling, S. (2009). eBird: A citizen-based bird observation network in the biological sciences. Biological Conservation, 142, 2282–2292. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIOCON.2009.05.006.
Thagunna, R.S., Subedi, R., & Koirala, R. (2023). Ecological significance and conservation issues of internationally important wetlands of Nepal: A Review. Journal of Forest and Natural Resource Management, 3, 35–52. https://doi.org/10.3126/jfnrm.v3i1.60108.
Timilsina, G., Bastola, S., Gurung, S., & Pokharel, K. (2019). Diversity, distribution and conservation of fishes in Lakes of Pokhara Valley, Nepal. ZOO Journal, 5, 32–40.
United Nations. (2018). Wetlands disappearing three times faster than forests. Climate Change News. Retrieved 05 June 2025 from https://unfccc.int/news/wetlands-disappearing-three-times-faster-than-forests.
Weller, M., & Spatcher, C.S. (1965). Role of habitat in the distribution and abundance of marsh birds. Special Report # 43, Iowa State University, Ames.
Weller, M.W. (1999). Wetland birds: Habitat resources and conservation implications. Cambridge University Press.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
