An incredible 1070, or about 10 per cent, of bird species can be found in Myanmar.

BIRD watching enthusiasts around the world dedicate much of their time to walking through forests and meadows, or drifting across wetland areas on boats, hoping to catch a glimpse of new species to add to their lists of animals they have spotted.

Knowledgeable bird watchers know and appreciate each species’ unique chirping sounds, body and wing shapes, and feather patterns and colours. To see a long-sought-after bird in the wild provides a thrill that is difficult to explain to someone who has never shared the experience.

There are more than 10,000 bird species throughout the world, and an incredible 1070, or about 10 per cent, of them can be found in Myanmar.

This high number is a result of both the country’s unique location as a geographic crossroads between South, East and Southeast Asia, and the wide variety of terrain found within its borders, from the icy mountain peaks in the north, to the central plains, to the delta and coastal areas in the south.

These diverse areas all provide homes for a wide range of feathered species, making Myanmar a world-class destination for bird watching enthusiasts.

One of the best and most well known areas for taking bird watching tours in the country is Natmataung National Park, which is located in Chin State in northwestern Myanmar.

Spanning portions of three townships (Kanpetlet, Mindat and Matupi) in the Mindat District of southern Chin State, the park is exceptionally located at an average elevation of about 1200 metres on the far eastern end of the Himalayan mountain range, and accommodates many rare and interesting bird species.

“Only by visiting the park can birds of the eastern Himalaya and Southeast Asia, as well as Myanmar’s scarce endemic species, be sighted in the same place,” said U Thet Zaw Naing, an experienced bird researcher and the secretary of the Myanmar Bird and Nature Society.

More than 280 bird species have been catalogued in the area, including several that are threatened with extinction, said U Thet Zaw Naing, who is also an ecotourism manager for the SST travel and tourism company.

Among the less common and more attractive species to be found at Natmataung National Park are Blyth’s tragopan, Hume’s pheasant, black-bibbed tit, grey sibia, Chinese babax, brown-capped laughingthrush and broad-billed warbler.

However, the main attraction of the park is the endangered white-browed nuthatch, one of four bird species found only in Myanmar.

While the three other endemic species – the Myanmar bushlark, white-throated babbler and hooded treepie – can be seen in drier areas of the country, the white-browed nuthatch can only be sighted in the park, which is cold and mountainous, said U Thet Zaw Naing.

“Visitors to the park are almost certain to see the white-browed nuthatch, and if they are lucky they might see the other endemic species on the way to the park from Bagan,” he said.

U Thet Zaw Naing said that is why the park is the best destination in Myanmar for bird watching and why it is a favourite among tourists.

He said there are three types of tourists who travel to Myanmar for bird watching: those of middle age and older who bird watch for recreation; researchers, who tend to be middle-aged or younger, who conduct serious surveys for scientific purposes; and visitors who combine the interests of the first two types – that is, researchers who also enjoy bird watching for fun.

Visitors choose their bird watching destinations based on what is best suited to their needs, with researchers tending to head for locations with endangered species, and amateurs giving priority to comfort, he said.

“But Natmataung is an exceptional area that can fulfill the needs of all three types of visitor because it is easy to get to, and there is an abundance and wide variety of bird species,” U Thet Zaw Naing said.

In fact, the ease of transportation is one of the main factors in attracting tourists to the park. Although it is located in a mountainous region, the road from Bagan in Mandalay Division to the park in Chin State is negotiable by car throughout the year.

Most tourists get to the park by flying to Bagan, then hiring a car to drive the Bagan-Chauk-Saw-Kanpatlet Road, which is about 160 kilometres long and can be driven in a single day. From Kanpetlet township, it is easy to get to the bird watching sites by car.

Pleasant accommodation at Natmataung National Park is provided by two government-owned guesthouses, as well as two recently opened private hotels.

“While it is rather difficult and exhausting to conduct bird watching outings to look for eastern Himalaya bird species in other countries, it can be carried out in comfort at the park,” U Thet Zaw Naing said.

The most popular bird watching area in the park is at an elevation of about 2800 metres, which is the highest place a car can get to on the way to the peak of the park’s famous Mount Natma, also known as Mount Victoria.

The 3100-metre mountain is the highest soil mountain in Southeast Asia and the only peak in Myanmar higher than 3000 metres that is never covered with snow.

Those who enjoy hiking and mountaineering can climb to the peak in about four hours, to take in the spectacular view of the park and pay respects to Zi Na Man Aung Pagoda, the highest-elevation pagoda in Myanmar.

Other activity options include visiting Chin ethnic villages in the area, where tourists can observe local lifestyles and customs, including the tradition of tattooing women’s faces.

In addition to birds, there are many other animal and plant species to be seen in the park, including butterflies, said U Thet Zaw Naing.

He said a five-day outing is enough to spot about 80 per cent of the park’s bird species.

The 722-square-kilometre Natmataung National Park was established in 1997 with the aim of conserving highland biodiversity and preserving an important watershed for the country.

Other sites in Myanmar that are good for bird watching include Indawgyi Wildlife Sanctuary, Hponkanrazi Wildlife Sanctuary, Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary and Hkakaborazi National Park, all in Kachin State, and Tamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary in Sagaing Division.