Indian Shag: a new bird record for Nepal

Ornithologists confirm yet another new species of bird for Nepal. Indian Shag is the name of the new bird that has been reported from Koshi Tappu by ornithologists Suchit Basnet and Badri Chaudhary. It is known as Phalacrocorax fuscicollis to the scientific world. The bird was first sighted on 19 March 2009 by Mr Basnet and Mr Chaudhary and subsequently photographed on 26 March 2009 in the same area by a visiting birder Hannah Philips. The bird was located along one of the main channels of Koshi River. Mr Suchit Basnet, who is also the Chair of Nepal Rare Birds Committee shares that 'With the finding of Indian Shag in Nepal, the current bird total for Nepal stands as 865 species.'