Bird watching is the pleasantry activity for a traveler to do, it’s actually fun that how little pretty birds with those colorful feathers teaches you some most important lessons of the life. Check out destinations famous for bird watching in Uttarakhand.
Chopta Valley comes under Kedarnath wild life sanctary and has acclaimed the attraction of bird lovers all around the world. Bird watching in Chopta is a famous activity that is sought after by bird lovers and researchers too.
Away from the hustle and bustle of city life, surrounded by nature’s beauty all around, Chopta is a paradise for bird lovers. From the sound of the chirping of birds early in the morning to the buzz of their daily activities in the noon, Chopta is the happy place of a rich variety of western Himalayan birds.
Check Pictures of Various birds found in Chopta Region
Part of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary
Being a part of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Chopta offers a rich biodiversity. It is surrounded by dense forests which serves as a habitat for various species of animals. An important part of its rich biodiversity is the variety of birds residing here.
An important Bird Area
With more than 240 species of birds, Chopta has been declared as an important Bird Area by BNHS and Birdlife International. You will surely spot the beautiful Himalayan Monal, Himalayan Swiftlet, Himalayan Griffon, Scarlet Finch, Hill Patridge, Golden Eye, among other birds.
Distinct Himalayan bird species
Owing to its rich variety of birds, Chopta is home to distinct Himalayan bird species which are normally not seen in other regions. The most famous of them are- Himalayan Monal, Himalayan Swiftlet, Himalayan Griffon, Scarlet Finch, Hill Patridge, Golden Eye, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Bearded Vultures, Laughter Thrust, Koklass Pheasant, Tit, Warbler, and so on.
Natural habitat of birds
The beautiful environment of Chopta allows the birds to roam freely and you’ll be able to catch them at their best happy self. This is one of the most fulfilling feature of bird watching in Chopta.
Round the Year Birding
Even many migrated birds can be seen in the valley. The bird watching can be explored all round the year except from June end to September.
1. Dugalbitta
Dugalbitta lies on the way to Chopta and is an excellent spot for bird watching. Famous birds of this region includes- Fire-tailed Sunbird, Brown Dipper, Kingfisher, Woodpeckers, and Russet Sparrow among others.
2. Mandal Village
Located 24 km from Chopta, Mandal is a scenic village offering a rich variety of birds. Famous birds spotted in this region are- Red Billed, Yellow Billed, Blue Magpie, Oriental Turtle Dive, etc.
3. Makku Village (Makkumath)
Makku Village is home to various species of birds such as Long-tailed Minivets, Russet Sparrow, Golden Bush Robin, Pine Thrush, Yelloe-rumpedHoneyguide
4. En route Tungnath Trek
The trek route from Chopta to Tungnath is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, alpine forests, and diverse flora and faunas. You will come across many rare species of birds here which serves as a delight to watch.
Bird watching in Chopta is a recreational activity that can be undertaken all year round. Every season sees a variety of migratory birds.
While you will spot different species of birds all year round, the preferable time to get the most out of your bird watching will be from March to November as there will be many varieties of birds in Chopta during this time.
Every year bird watching festival is organized in Chopta Region. Many birding enthusiasts visit Chopta region for this event.
We will update the upcoming birding events of Chopta and nearby region at the earliest