Chief Conservation Officer Ramdev Chaudhary and Seejan Gyawali (right) after successful completion of a survey for the critically endangered Bengal Florican. Seejan served as consulting ornithologist for this illusive member of the bustard family (Otididae) during a habitat monitoring project at Koshi-Tappu Wildlife Reserve in 2019. Only about 80 individuals of the critically endangered Bengal Florican are thought to be present in all of Nepal because of inadequate grassland management.
Seejan was Urban Bird Count leader for Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN, partner organization of Birdlife International) in surveys conducted in and around Kathmandu valley in 2018 to 2019. He is also a leader for BCN in the ongoing Saturday birding program for general members.
Chief Conservation Officer Ramdev Chaudhary and Seejan Gyawali (right) after successful completion of a survey for the critically endangered Bengal Florican. Seejan served as consulting ornithologist for this illusive member of the bustard family (Otididae) during a habitat monitoring project at Koshi-Tappu Wildlife Reserve in 2019. Only about 80 individuals of the critically endangered Bengal Florican are thought to be present in all of Nepal because of inadequate grassland management.
Seejan was Urban Bird Count leader for Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN, partner organization of Birdlife International) in surveys conducted in and around Kathmandu valley in 2018 to 2019. He is also a leader for BCN in the ongoing Saturday birding program for general members.
Shanta Buhsal
Student at Tribhuwan University
(Business and finance)
Dr. Larry H. Thompson
Retired molecular biologist, conservation supporter, and bird photographer
Seejan Gyawali
Founder and Executive Director
Naturalist and bird guide: BS, MS from Tribhuwan University
Sovit K. C.
Field Assistant
How Birds Nepal got started
Dr. Larry Thompson went to Nepal in November 2018 on a bird photography trip with guide Seejan (left) and co-guide Bhoj (right). At that time Seejan had just completed his M.S. degree in Zoology and very much needed employment. During the trip Larry became aware of the difficulty of doing nature conservation work in a poor country having minimal financial resources and few job opportunities for highly-motivated young scientists like Seejan. In 2020 we decided to establish Birds Nepal as a nonprofit conservation organization that promotes sustainable lifestyles, eco-tourism, and scientific studies supporting the protection of endangered birds and other wildlife. Our approach emphasizes the empowerment of women in conservation, and engaging youth by nurturing their appreciation of the wonders of the natural world.
To Larry from Shanta: "Thanks for accepting me as your daughter. Now, I have a big challenge to learn and write English. I am sorry for my English. I think I have to join English class from basic English. Yes, this computer will help me a lot for my study. I will also learn to type which I feel very good. Although my degree is not related with conservation or wildlife, I still can involve in nature conservation such as by carrying an awareness program in the school and community about impact of overpopulation and its control measures. I am happy to work in the organisation Birds Nepal."
Shanta with new MacBook Pro for her studies in October 2020
Seejan and Larry at Fishtail Lodge in Pokora in Dec 2018
