We just wrapped up an amazing four days of intense learning! Our “Raptor Study Design and Research Techniques” workshop at Central Campus of Technology (CCT) in Dharan has finished, leaving 17 young conservationists much better equipped to study these magnificent birds. This training was a collaborative effort by The Himalayan Raptors, Nature Conservation and Study Centre (NCSC), and Research Association of Hattisar (RAH). We brought together 17 passionate participants from diverse academic institutions, including Kathmandu University, the Institute of Forestry (IOF), and the hosting CCT, Dharan, for a mix of classroom time and field excursions.
The training officially kicked off on November 25th with a warm introductory session. After meeting everyone, we dove straight into the fundamentals of raptor identification and knowledge. To make learning more interactive, we used flashcard activities (led by Sandesh Gurung) and practical morphometric exercises (led by Dr. Tulsi Ram Subedi), helping trainees sharpen their observational skills. The first day also covered the scientific basics—how to frame a good research question, build hypotheses, and look at population study methods.
Day two was all about movement, focusing on raptor migration and the crucial field skills of trapping and tagging. The morning was spent bird-watching led by Dheeraj Chaudhary, an expert birder with extensive bird survey experience. Participants engaged in practical demonstrations to practice various trapping methods such as noose string trap, and pigeon harness under expert guidance of Dr. Tulsi Ram Subedi and Sandesh Gurung with dummy raptors and live pigeons. We also spent time on the vital skill of accurate data handling, covering data acquisition and sampling methods.
The afternoon sessions focused on critical health and genetic topics with input from our online guest lecturers. Assoc. Professor Chaiyan Kasorndorkbua from Kasetsart University led the discussion on Raptor Pathology and Disease. We concluded with cutting-edge techniques: Stable Isotope Analysis, Genetics, and eDNA, expertly covered by Sabin KC, a Raptor Biologist specializing in Genomics from Tribhuvan University.
The third day started with birding and later explored advanced topics, including feeding ecology and breeding study methods. We welcomed online speakers Assoc. Professor Juan Manuel Pérez-García and Raju Acharya, Director of Friends of Nature. Juan Manuel shared his expertise on Threat Assessment Techniques, while Raju Acharya delivered a session on the critical issue of Hunting and Trade of Owls in Nepal. Everyone then got hands-on with practical camera trapping exercises and bow net trap execution , and the day wrapped up with session on breeding ecology of raptors.
The grand finale was our full field trip on the final day. Trainees put everything they learned into practice, conducting detailed fieldwork such as power line survey, point counts, transect survey, supported by our team. Once back, everyone completed a final assessment and gave us valuable feedback on the program. We closed the workshop with a short, celebratory ceremony where certificates were handed out.
This training was a remarkable opportunity for us to work with our partners to share raptor research expertise with rising biologists and to help protect these species across Nepal. We are proud to have helped strengthen the skills of these future researchers, setting them up to conduct meaningful conservation work.
