Long term monitoring of bird species was conducted in Barandabhar Corridor Forest, one of the important bird areas of Nepal (IBA). Bird species were identified by the point count method in transect surveys in two-time frames from 2002–2012 and 2015–2016 to obtain the bird species list. We compared our bird list with previously published (after 2000) checklists and compiled the updated checklist of birds of Barandabhar Corridor Forest. We documented 372 bird species belonging to 80 families in Barandabhar, including five Critically Endangered, three Endangered, eight Vulnerable, and 15 Near Threatened species. The Accipitridae family included the highest number of species (n= 32), followed by Muscicapidae (n= 30) and Anatidae (n= 18). Approximately, half of the total confirmed bird species were insectivorous. The list included 63% resident, 27% winter migratory, 7.5% summer migratory, and 2.9% passage migrant species. According to the habitat type, there were 181 species of forest, 74 species of wetland, 24 species of grassland, 70 species of open field, and 23 species of partially wetland birds. This updated checklist of bird species will serve as a reference guide for bird watchers, biodiversity researchers, and support managers for conservation effort; and can be used to track any changes in the composition of bird species in the future.

Understanding the mammalian fauna is one of the first steps for protected areas management. Proper taxonomic identification is essential for initiating long-term conservation management and species action plans. Here, we present the checklist of mammals of Gaurishankar Conservation Area based on direct observation, field reports, key interviews, focal group discussion, and a literature review. Seventy-seven species of mammals belonging to eight orders and 26 families were known to occur in the region. Of these, only 32 species were of confirmed occurrence and are based on direct observation and camera trap records. The remaining 45 species listed in the checklist were based on interviews and literature. Small mammals of orders Chiroptera and Rodentia were reported less based on interviews and literature surveys, hence needs further studies to confirm their existence. The highest species belonged to the order Carnivora (25 species), followed by Chiroptera (21 species), Rodentia (12 species), Cetartiodactyla (7), Lagomorpha (5), Eulipotyphla (3), Primates (3) and Pholidota (1). A more robust taxonomic study particularly focusing on small mammals is warranted considering the ecological gradients and topography in the region.

No abstract available.

This is the first photographic confirmation of the occurrence of Binturong Arctictis binturong from Nepal. Although based on anecdotal reports, the species was believed to occur in the eastern Himalaya of Nepal but its exact locality and photographic evidence were not available. Hence this is the first proof for this species to be present in Nepal.