Birdlife

Chiang Saen Lake, otherwise known as Nong Bong Kai Non-Hunting Area, is recognised as a very important wetland area for waterbirds and became a Wildlife Sanctuary on 4th April 1985. It is currently protected by the International Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, which Thailand signed up to in 1998. The National Wetlands Committee and the National Wetlands Policy will help to protect the lake for the future. (see the link; Ramsar visit to Thailand, November-December 2003

In February each year, many thousands of migrating waterbirds visit the lake for several months. Some of these birds stay for their breeding season. The most numerous species is the Whistling Teal, not a particularly rare bird but a magnificent sight when there are 5,000 of them living at the lake.

Some of the birds seen at Chiang Saen Lake last winter.

Little Grebe (Great Crested Grebes seen last year), Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Chinese Pond-Heron, Great & Little Egret, Northern Pintail, Spot-billed Duck, Garganey, Northern Shoveller, Baer's Pochard, Lesser Whistling Duck, Black-shouldered Kite, Eastern Marsh-Harrier, Pied Harrier, Waterhen, Watercock, Moorhen, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Grey-headed Lapwing, Black-winged Stilt, Oriental Turtle-Dove, Spotted Dove, Zebra Dove, Plaintive Cuckoo, Common Koel, Greater Coucal, Barn Owl, Common Kingfisher, White-Throated Kingfisher, Hoopoe, Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, White Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Black & Ashy Drongo, Oriental Magpie-robin, Black-collared Starling, Purple Sunbird,  and many, many, more we haven't identified yet.

We welcome all nature lovers and birders. Birding tours & trips can be arranged with our local experienced ornithologist guide, Mr Mick Davies, who has 40 years of experience birding in many parts of the world and many years in Thailand. Discounts arranged for birding groups.

A roost of up to 200 Pied Harriers and Eastern Marsh Harriers exists to the southwest of Chiang Saen Lake. This is the biggest known roost of these birds in Thailand. See the lovely picture of a male Pied Harrier on our home page, courtesy of (Photo by John & Jemi Holmes)

30th August 2007; A pair of Hoopoes were seen flying along the road near Viang Yonok today.

A new initiative by Mick Davis and his wife Dowroong Damlamajak, also an experienced birder and naturalist, has created the "Friends of the Yonok Wetlands". This exciting project has brought together the local community and Buddhist monks in the local temples to stop all hunting in this very special area. Viang Yonok will be supporting this project in any way we can. Please check the link below to read all about it.

http://www.thaibirding.com/news/yonokwetlands.htm

Also check Mick and Dowroong's website about the project.

http://yonokwetlands.awardspace.com/

Viang Yonok also supports the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand.

http://www.bcst.or.th/eng/index.htm

Please also see northern Thailands premier birding club led by the famous naturalist Dr Mong.

http://www.lannabirdclub.com/

Another great site many of you will know is the Oriental bird club

http://www.orientalbirdclub.org/

Black-winged Stilt

The Atlas moth has the largest wing surface area of all moths. Atlas Moths don't eat at all throughout their adult life which lasts for about two weeks. An adult Atlas Moth doesn't even have a mouth and lives off fat reserves built up when it was a caterpillar. They quickly mate, lay eggs, and die shortly thereafter.