Bhutan by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Travel.Travel Guides
ISBN: 9781740595292
Google: s-L8NUlW_QgC
Publisher: Lonely Planet
Published: 2007-11-15T10:00:00+00:00

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WATCHING THE CRANES

The marshy centre of the Phobjikha valley means it’s best avoided on foot but it’s a perfect winter residence for the flock of 350 (up from 212 a decade ago) rare and endangered black-necked cranes that migrate from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to Bhutan in late autumn, typically between 23 and 26 October. The Bhutanese have great respect for these ‘heavenly birds’, and songs about the cranes are popular among village folk. In mid-February, the cranes circle Gangte Goemba and fly back across the Himalaya to their summer homes in Tibet. One of the most popular folk songs of the people of Phobjikha laments the time when the cranes leave the valley.

The best months to spot cranes are between October and March, with the best chance between November and January. The best times for viewing are at dawn or dusk, when all the birds in the valley congregate for the night. The RSPN removed a viewing hide in 2005 out of concern for the bird’s well-being but you can watch the birds from the centre’s viewing area or from the valleyside hiking trails. Wear dull-coloured clothes, keep your distance and refrain from flash photography. For more on black-necked cranes Click here.

The RSPN initiated and sponsors the annual Black-Necked Crane Festival on 12 November, the day following the king’s birthday. It’s primarily an effort to instil conservation values into the people of Phobjikha, but tourists are welcome to watch the festivities, most of which are folk dances staged by school children.

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