A new species of migratory seabird, known as short-tailed shearwater, has been officially recorded in Nepal for the first time. The rare bird was spotted at the Koshi barrage reservoir in Saptari. The bird was sighted swimming at the reservoir from the tower of Koshi barrage in Hanumannagar Kankalini Municipality.

Ornithologist Anish Timsina was the first to observe and document the bird. “I watched it for half an hour from just 30 meters away while it was gliding and flying joyfully. It was clearly engaging in typical water activity, confirming it was a seabird,” he said.

Senior ornithologist Hem Sagar Baral emphasised the significance of the sighting of new bird species. “This is not only a new species for Nepal, but also the first-ever recorded seabird of its kind in the country. It shows that species typically found in the Pacific Ocean can appear in Nepal as well,” said Baral.

Timsina captured photos and videos of the bird, which later played a crucial role in confirming its identity. He sighted the bird at 9:06 am on May 2, shared the findings with the Nepal Bird Record Committee on May 4, along with precise geographical data.

According to Tulsi Subedi, chairman of the committee, the new bird species has been confirmed after consulting the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and national as well as international experts.

Based on the bird’s English Short-tailed shearwater, the committee has given the official Nepali name of the bird as “Chhoto Puchchhre Samundri Chara”. The naming was based on its appearance, colour and structure, following standard ornithological practices.

With this addition, Nepal’s total bird count has reached 900. “It’s a big boost for bird tourism,” said Timilsina, who has now discovered three new bird species in Nepal. “Every new record adds to Nepal’s appeal as a bird watching destination.”

The short-tailed shearwater breeds in countries like Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Fiji, Japan, India, New Zealand, Russia, Sri Lanka and South Korea, where it is a resident species.

Conservationists and bird enthusiasts are elated with the finding of the new bird species, believing that it can establish Nepal as a major birding destination in the world. “Discoveries of new bird species are increasing Nepal’s tourism value. They show that bird enthusiasts can observe species from the plains to the Himalayas here,” said Laxman Paudel, executive director of the Nepal Ornithologists’ Association.

Just last month, another new species named violet cuckoo (Baijani Koili), was recorded by Timilsina and three other bird enthusiasts. The bird was sighted at the Sukhani forest area of Rong Rural Municipality in Ilam district in eastern Nepal.

A group of four bird enthusiasts including Timsina, Rajendra Gurung, and Malaysian birders Alexander John Ang Yang and Roger Robert Rajah spotted the violet cuckoo in the lower Mai Valley Conservation Area at an altitude of around 300 metres above sea level. Violet cuckoo (chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus) is a migratory species, meaning it does not stay in one location year-round. According to ornithologists, until breeding or nesting is observed the bird species is classified as a migratory visitor to Nepal.

On February 19, another new bird species was documented in Jhapa district. Bird enthusiast Devendra Kharel spotted a purple-backed sunbird, known in Nepali as Baijani Dhade Bungechara, in Kankadbhitta of the district on February 19.

With the increasing number of bird population and bird species, Nepal has been a haven for birding. Given the variety of bird species the country hosts, a good number of foreign tourists have started visiting the country, exclusively to watch birds.