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Catching and building for Nepal's breeding centre in 2008
Following on from earlier years of monitoring and with the support of BCN, Ramji Gautam (Department of Zoology, Prithvi Narayan Campus, Pokhara) monitored vulture nests in the Pokhara area throughout the 2007/08 breeding season. Additional nesting sites were followed and monitored by Hari Pariyar and Hari Bhakta Adhikari (Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge).
During March Ramji Guatam, Hari Pariyer and Hari Bhakta Adhikari revisited these nest sites along with Tulsi Ram Subedi (BCN Vulture Biologist), Erica Sommer (RSPB volunteer) and Richard Cuthbert (RSPB). The team successfully captured 14 vulture chicks in the Pokhara area from the 13th to the 20th March 2008. The presence of persistent rain and heavy thunderstorms, along with some very tall (30 metre) trees made the job difficult, but all the birds captured were in good health.
In order to hold birds in a secure and safe area prior to their movement to the breeding centre a temporary holding aviary was built in Pokhara. Construction of the aviary took place over 2 weeks. This construction was led by Scott Mason (an experienced falconer and paraglider pilot who runs Parahawking in Pokhara) with the help of Bhupal Gurung, James Irons, Paul Roberts, Michelle King, Veso Ovcharov and Brad Sander (all falconers or local paraglider pilots volunteering their time). The completed aviary was approximately 8 x 4 metres in dimensions and 2 metres high, with a nesting ledge for the vulture chicks along one wall.
Nestlings were held at the temporary aviary in Pokhara for two weeks, prior to being transported to the breeding centre in Chitwan. During this time a raptor husbandry training programme was run by falconers James Irons and Michelle King and Dr Binab Karmacharya (Veterinary Officer, NTNC, Kathmandu Central Zoo) for the three newly appointed NTNC vulture keepers (Kalpana Thapa, Hari Chandra Bote and Ranjan Choudhary).
The 14 chicks were safely transported to Sauraha (Chitwan on the 29th March) where they were held in a rapidly constructed temporary home prior to being released in the completed Kasara aviary a few days later. All 14 chicks gained weight and developed well throughout their captivity and transport, and are still all doing well in six months later in September 2008.
Photos below:
Parahawking team members constructing the holding aviary in Pokhara
Catching a vulture nestling from the top of a large Simal tree
Tulsi Ram Subedi (BCN) and Ramji Gautam with captured chicks
Ram Kumar Aryal (NTNC) leads construction team at the temporary aviary Sauraha
Photos: Richard Cuthbert
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