BIRDS
With over 700 species recorded to
date and new species being added to the country list almost monthly ,Laos is
one of the most exciting and least known
birding locations in the world. In recent years as the country has
embraced ecotourism the opportunities are expanding rapidly for visitors to see
a variety of beautiful and rare species.
The Northern Highlands of the country
hold numerous species associated with Northern Thailand and the North Eastern
Himalayas. A huge diversity of babblers as well as Blyth’s Kingfishers, Rufous
necked Hornbill , Beautiful Nuthatch, Short tailed Parrotbill and Yellow Vented
Warbler can be found in the forests of the North.
The Mekong Plain supports areas f
dry deciduous forest inhabited by Rufous-winged Buzards, Black headed
Woodpeckers and Small Minivets.Ban SIvilai s a community owned and operated
bird conservation zone in this area.
The Mekong itself provides an
important flyway for migratory shorebirds and waterfowl as well as localized
sandbank species such as Small Pratincole ,River Lapwing , Great Thick Knee and
River Tern .
The Southern portion of the Mekong Plain along the Cambodian border
is home to the incredibly rare White – shouldered and Giant ibis as well as
small populations of White-rumped and Red –headed vultures ,Lesser Adjutantsm
,Sarus Cranes and White winged Ducks. The most exciting discovery in the area
in recent years has been the description of a new species to science, the
Mekong Wagtail. This species was found, within the past decade, to live on
sandbanks in the Mekong and a few of its tributaries in southern Lao and
Cambodia.
Perhaps the most exciting areas
for birding in the country is along the Annamite Range that marks the border
with Vietnam. In recent years any species once thought to be found only in
Vietnam have been discovered in Lao.
Species such as Short tailed Scimitar
Babbler, Yellow-billed Nuthatch and the recently described Black crowned
Barwing are all readily found. Slightly more widespread species include White-
winged and Indochinese Green Magpies as well as the shy and difficult to see
Crested Argus and Blue naped Pitta.
Another area worthy of mention is
the impressive strip of karst limestone that divides the Mekong Plain from the
Annamite Range in central Laos. This beautiful landscape is home to the
enigmatic Sooty Babbler. Despite being locally common this species went unseen
for decades until being “rediscovered “in the 1990’s.
