Bhutan is a paradise for the Bird watchers. On the world scale, the country is recognized as forming the major part of an area of especially high biological diversity known as the Eastern Himalayan ' Hot spot'. Over 580 bird species have been recorded in Bhutan so far and many more species are likely to occur. This is a large number for the size of the country.

There are ten bird species in Bhutan, which have been identified as globally threatened by Bird life International. These include the Black-necked Crane, one of the World's rarest and least known cranes, which traditionally winters in Bhutan, the Rufous-necked Hornbill, Blyth's Tragopan, Blyth's King fisher, Ward's Trogon, chestnut breasted Partridge, white bellied Heron, Wood snipe and Pallas's Fish Eagle. In addition, Bhutan is also home to winter visitors which breed farther north, such as migrant thrushes and for many breeding summer migrants including cuckoos and flycatchers. Most of Bhutan's resident birds are Altitudinal migrants, which move up and down the mountains depending on the season and weather conditions.

Bhutan may also be internationally important for 114 species, which may have significant breeding population in the country. These birds have breeding ranges, which are restricted to an area encompassing the Himalayas, northeast India, northern south East Asia and southwest china.

15 DAYS BIRD WATCHING TOUR

Day 01: Arrival at Paro. Transfer to hotel in Paro.
Day 02: Sightseeing in Paro.
Day 03: Drugyel Dzong to Sharna Zampa (6 hours trek) Altitude: 2,870 meters.
Day 04: Sarna Zampa to Thangthangka (7 hours trek) Altitudde: 3,630 meters.
Day 05: Thangthangka to Jangothang (6 hours trek) Altitude: 4,090 meters.
Day 06: Acclimatization and exploration in Jangothang.
Day 07: Jangothang to Dhumzo (7 hours trek) Altitude: 3,800 meters.
Day 08: Dhumzo to Thombu Shong (5 hours trek) Altitude: 4,180 meters
Day 09: Thombu Shong to Sarna Zampa (5 hours trek) Altitude: 2,870 meters.
Day 10: Sarna Zampa to Drugyel Dzong. Overnight at hotel in Paro.
Day 11: Paro to Thimphu. Thimphu sightseeing.
Day 12: Thimphu > Punakha > Wangdi
Day 13: Wangdi to Gangtey.
Day 14: Gangtey to Paro.
Day 15: Paro departure.

Annual Black Necked Crane Festival

Bhutan is an important wintering ground for the stately Black necked cranes, one of the world's most threatened cranes. Each year, Phobjikha valley plays host to more than 230 threatened BNC adding another precious intrinsic value to its rich bio-diversity. It is now a known feature that the cranes fly every year to Bhutan around the 03rd week of October. The local folks with the onset of winter having minimum work mark the arrival of the thrung thrung in the valley as a time for leisure. They stay in the valley until around the first week of March foraging for bamboo tuber, insects, grains etc. The number of these Black necked Cranes is declining every year. This is because of the drainage of their marshy habitat in some places and recent changes in traditional farming methods which have resulted in reduced availability of food for the cranes and partly because of the threats in their breeding areas. Total protection is given to the cranes in Bhutan and there are wardens at their main wintering areas in Phobjikha valley and at Bumdiling. The Royal Government has ensured that the cranes are undisturbed in Bhutan. The Back necked crane is important in local folklore and there are myths, legends and songs about the bird. The cranes are famous for their spectacular and beautiful dances in which they bow, leap into air and toss vegetation about whilst uttering loud bugling calls.

The Black Necked Crane Festival is held every year in the month of November at Phobjikha valley with the following objectives.

1. Raise awareness and the involvement of the public in activities that can lead to the conservation of the Black-necked Cranes.
2. Foster and encourage understanding related to all phases of conservation of the rare and endangered Black necked cranes and their critical habitat among the local population and visitors.
3. Enhance opportunity for the tourists to learn more about better appreciate the local areas, natural and cultural heritage.
4. Design, co-ordinate and advance community involvement in the organization of the festival, which will eventually contribute to conservation of the Black-necked Crane and economic development of the local community.
5. Raise funds for ecologically sustainable economic development of the Phobjikha community and to change the attitude of the local community towards the conservation of the rare and endangered Black necked Cranes.

We will inform you as soon as the program schedule has been finalized and printed.

Directory of the name of the places for bird watching

Currently accepted official spellings of names of the places for Bird watching are given in the following alphabetically arranged list, together with the approximate altitudes in metres, and drainage's in which the localities are situated. These localities, grouped under West, Central and East Bhutan follow the alphabetical list.

Recent officially accepted spellings are given in roman types, and the older alternative ones in Italics.

Map of Bird Distridution