The Great White Pelican birds have been spotted in Kumal Lake situated at Barandabhar Jungle of Chitwan district. A team of Bird Education Society spotted the species on Thursday. According to ornithologists, this is the third time that the bird has been found in Nepal.

Society’s advisor Tikaram Giri shared that the bird was first spotted flying in Kathmandu sky some 100 years ago. Later it was found in Koshi, he said.

“This species of bird feed on fish and frog. This is primarily found in ocean and lakes,” said Giri. He further said the bird hatches its egg in India’s Gujarat, among other countries. Birders believe that the bird must have migrated to Nepal from India.

Great White Pelican is a wanderer bird and experts opine that it won’t stay in Nepal for long. It will return to its original habitat. Bird Education Society’s Chairman Bashu Bidari said, “This is a migrant bird to Nepal. It won’t stay here for long.”

Giri said the bird spotted in Chitwan’s lake are fledglings. Three fledglings were spotted on the lake on Thursday, he said. 

Photos: Sagar Giri