Bird watching is an important sector, which the foreign tourists eye on Sikkim. Be if forest or and non-forested areas – such as cliffs, high alpine meadows, streams, all provide places birds to feed, rest and raise their young. The Britishers have long back discovered that the unique feature of this tiny Himalayan state is its flora- fauna diversity. Joseph Hooker, the renowned British naturalist in his 1849 expedition the Sikkim has written in his ‘ Himalayan Journal’

alpine zone has all the flora of North America and  Europe combined plus some not found in either.

The latest bird survey carried out at Kanchenjanga National Park by Professor Trevor Price and his team indicated the probable rise in the number of species. More importantly, this effort has also triggered off inspiration to our local bird watchers, for which the Sikkim Ornithological Society (SOS) and WWF- India have recently begun with a crash course on bird watching. About 3 2youngsters comprising of educated unemployed hailing from Yuksam, Nambu, Sadam, Ranka, Kewzing and Gangtok participated in the crash course. Interestingly, these areas are believed to be well- known birding circuits. “The presence of Chungda Sherpa, alone guide based in Yuksam provided a sort of inspiration to the youngsters”, said Lukendra Rasaily, Secretary, SOS.

Moreover, lectures on the very rudiments on bird watching were given by Usha Lachungpa, Researcher, forest and Wildlife Office and Dr. Dipankar Ghosh, Senior Project Officer, WWF- India. The duo dealt on the basics of ornithology, ecotourism as well as ethics of birding, importance of plant and bird life. Field trip to Bulbuley was included in the crash course, which was joined by eminent bird watchers, Ranajit Mitra from Siliguri and Babloo Das from Assam. The trainees were shown different species of birds, their characteristics, food habits and different altitude they play in between different intervals of the day.

The trip, which was done in the early morning hours, resulted in spotting 41 species, which were detailed in the trainee’s sheet given to them. Among the 41 species, some of the rare birds they spotted were grey- headed canary flycatcher, chestnut crowned laughing thrushes, oriental magpie robin, yellow billed blue magpie, grey winged black bird, lesser cuckoo (difficult to trace but its shrill song heard atop trees), fulvous breasted woodpecker, blue winged minla, chestnut billed rock thrush and Rufous billed Niltava. “the participants will betaken to different

stretches around Gangtok like Syari and ICAR complex in the coming days”, Mr. Rasaily said. On finer aspect, the SOS has started off with the course, particularly in infesting the young minds with the idea of specialization in bird watching thus relying on huge bird watching craze across the world. There are 15 million bird watchers in USA alone, who are looking for new areas for their enrichment on the knowledge of birds. In this circumstance, members of SOS believe that the resident birds around Gangtok can help attract “good foreign crowd”.

The kind of work taken up by the SOS is a good sign not only towards the identification of the bird species and its subsequent protection but also in training the youths for enhanced specialization in the subject to deal with the bird watchers at large. It is therefore, is the right perspective of the SOS to take up the daunting task from scratch, especially with their objective to conduct a survey on the exact number of bird species found around Gangtok, their focus on conservation and more importantly on policing it from poachers or the likes.

Tholung Valley - a house of Bird watchers

The Tholung Valley is located in the shadow of the 6888 Meters high Siniolchu, and the 5200 Meters Lamo Anden, this is virtually an uninhabited valley with a miniscule population ( less than 50 ) of  Lamas, yak herdsmen, wood cutters, cow and sheep grazers.The Valley is approximately 540 sq Kms in area. The upper reaches comprise Glaciers, snow clad peaks, alpine lakes, moraine and meadows. There is a net work of streams feeding the Ringpi Chu River with many waterfalls. This river originates at the Kishong Tso Lake, 4228 M and cascades

down to Be, 1450 M, till it joins the Rongyong Chhu at an altitude of 1085 M. –all in a distance of 26 Kms.  The lower half of the valley has mixed open forest with amazing biodiversity. The altitudinal variation, variety of trees and shrubs, lack of human population and vehicular traffic combine to make it a haven for birds, and a prime birding site. A very good walking trail with offshoots of grazing trails provides access for birding. The entire length of the walking trail from is to Talung Gompa (13 Kms) is a birding hot spot. Productive birding is also available for about 3 kms on the trail connecting be with Lingsha.

List of Birds Recorded In Talumg Valley, North Sikkim.
Little Cormorant, Crested Serpent  Eagle, Black Eagle, Common Kestrel, Himalayan Monal, Kalij Pheasant, Spotted Dove, Grey Headed Parakeet, White Rumped Needletail, Himalyan Woodpecker, Greater Yellownape, Lesser Yellownape, Black Drongo, Long tailed Shrike, Common Green Magpie, Rufous Treepie, Grey Chinned Minivet, Small Minivet, White Eared bulbul Himalayan Bulbul, Black Bulbul, Mountain Bulbul, Straited Bulbul, Redvented Bulbul, Winter Wren, Spotted Wren Babbler, Rufous Sibia, Rufous Backed Sibia, Straited Yuhnia, white Naped Yuhnia, Whiskered Yuhnia, Rufous Vented Yuhnia, Chestnut Brown Laughing Thrush, Striated Laughing Thrush, White Crested Laughing Thrush, Black Faced Laughing Thrush, Pygmy Blue Flycatcher (Male), Yellow Bellied Wabbler, Black Faced Wabbler, Grey Hooded Wabbler, Chestnut Headed Tesia, Hill Prinia, Striated Prinia, Tickell's Leaf Wabbler, Yellow Vented Wabbler, Ashy Throated Wabbler, White Browed Wabbler, Rufous Breasted Bush robin, White Capped Water Redstart, Plumbeous Water Redstart, Blacked Backed Forktail, Spotted Forktail, White Crowned Forktail, Little Forktail, Himalayan Blue Whistling Thrush, Common Stonechats, Grey Bushchat, Grey Winged Blackbird, Blacked Lored Tit, Grey Crested Tit Rufous Fronted Tit, Sultan Tit, Yellow Cheeked Tit, Rusty Flanked Treecreeper, Chestnut Bellied Nuthatch, Olive Backed Pipit, White Wagtail (Ocularis),