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Phase I edit

Nepal is a socially and biologically diverse country. Its landscapes range from 60 meters above sea level to the top of the world. This makes Nepal rich in biodiversity. It is home for animals and birds that are found in tropical to tundra regions. We initiated Wiki Loves Birds project with the aim to increase the amount of free licensed materials of available bird species of Nepal. The project aimed to add photographs of birds found Nepal in Wikimedia Commons; and improve the quality and quantity of Wikipedia articles (mainly in the Nepali Language) about the birds of Nepal.

 
User: Nirmal Dulal with Niraj Dahal at Bird Conservation Nepal

On 05 October 2018, we reached to Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN), an organization that is working on the conservation of birds, their habitats and sites since 1982. This helped us to form a group who has knowledge and interest in birds. We also collaborated with special interest groups including reputed birds experts, journalists, photographers, and researchers. The collaboration helped to introduce Wikipedia and its importance in bird conversation. As a result, these important figures have become active Wikipedians and WLB project team members. Here the names and identity of these reputed figures:

  • Mr. Rajendra Gurung: President of Bird Conservation Nepal and bird expert.[1]
  • Mr Vimal Thapa: General Secretary of Bird Conservation Nepal and bird expert.[1]
  • Mr Ramesh Chaudhary: Board Member of Bird Conservation Nepal and bird expert.[1]
 
Project Coordinator User: Nirmal Dulal with Mr. Rajendra Gurung (President of BCN) and bird expert Mr. Ramesh Chaudhary

Covered Place for Outreach and Photowalks edit

SN Name of Location Geo Coordinate
1 Chitwan National Park, Chitwan Coordinates: 27.5341069°, 84.4502779°
2 Shivapuri National Park - Pani Muhan & Jama Chowk Area Coordinates: 27.7908993°, 85.4250515°
3 Suryabinayak Forest, Bhaktapur Coordinates: 27.6477111°, 85.4053486°
4 Nagarkot Area, Bhaktapur Coordinates: 27.7144333°, 85.4643196°
5 Bhimdhunga - Nagarjun Forest Reserve Area, Kathmandu Coordinates: 27.7452555°, 85.254535°
6 Taudaha Area, Kathmandu Coordinates: 27.6423552°, 85.2859219°
7 Chobhar - Bagmati River, Kathmandu Coordinates: 27.6576878°, 85.2675899°
8 Godawari - Phulchowki Area, Lalitpur Coordinates: 27.5962562°, 85.3357022°
9 Sankhu Area, Kathmandu Coordinates: 27.7297864°, 85.4578131°
10 Sundarijal Area, Kathmandu Coordinates: 27.7851285°, 85.393595°

Program Output Metrics edit

 
First photograph of spiny babbler (Turdoides nipalensis) upoaded in wikimedia commons

The metrics counts of this project are described below:

Description Target Outcomes Remarks
1. Number of Total Participants (including core team) 15+ 22
2. Number of newly registered users - 10
3. Number of articles added or improved on Wikimedia projects 100+ 103
3 a.In Nepali Wikipedia - 100[2]
3 b. In English Wikipedia - 3
4. Number of recorded birds species during photowalks - 172
5. Number of total new images/media uploaded to Wikimedia Commons - 1089[3]
6. Number of new images of birds uploaded to Wikimedia Commons 1000+ 1020[4]
6 a. Number of Species captured 100+ 209
6 b. Number of Valued images - 14[5]
6 c.Number of Quality images - 36[6]

Good Sides of the Project edit

  • Coordination and collaboration: The project was able to introduce Wikipedia article creation technique to the people working on birds by producing literature, pictures, and research works. It has built up nice coordination and relationship with Bird Conservation Nepal, birds experts of Nepal, and reputed authors. Their collaboration and active participation in this project by way of photo uploading, species identification, and article creation have enriched Wikipedia.
 
User:Nrik Kiran preparing camera before taking photo
  • Photographic team's work: The Wiki Loves Birds project has collaborated with a good number of professional photographers who have great equipment for macro photography. So this project has formed an enthusiastic team of photographers who are willing to contribute to Wikimedia Commons.
  • Creation and expansion of articles: This project has created and developed more than 100 articles on birds of Nepal in Nepali Wikipedia which has upheld the very motto of Wikimedia movement of knowledge development and sharing.

Bad Sides of the Project edit

  • Weather condition: This year unexpected weather condition affected our plan on Photowalks.
  • Less Participation from Community: On 27 November 2018 I put a proposal on Nepali Wikipedia Vilagepump regarding call for participation in this event[7] but only few among nepali wikipedian showed interest on it. However we started project collaborating with BCN and Friend of Birds Group.

Valued and quality images gallery edit

Phase II edit

 
Project Coordinator User: Nirmal Dulal with Mr. Vimal Thapa (Vice-President of Bird Conservation Nepal) and bird expert Mr. Jaya Nath Bhandari.

After the success of the first phase, we again plan to run the second phase of Wiki Loves Birds, collaborating with Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN), an organization that has been working on the conservation of birds, their habitats, and sites since 1982. We also collaborated with special interest groups, including reputed bird experts, wildlife photographers, and researchers. As a result of this collaboration, we get help and support from Mr. Vimal Thapa (Vice-President of Bird Conservation Nepal and bird expert), Mr. Ramesh Chaudhary (Board Member of Bird Conservation Nepal and bird expert), and Mr. Jaya Nath Bhandari (Member of Bird Conservation Nepal and bird expert).[8] 

During the event we organize several activities like photowalk, outreach program to promote event and get photographs of birds around Kathmandu Valley and other diffrent part of nepal. From March 8 to March 12, 2024, we separated into two teams and traveled to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and Chitawan National Park.

Program Output Metrics edit

The metrics counts of this project are described below:

Description Target Outcomes Remarks
1. Number of Total Participants (including core team) 15+ 17
2. Number of newly registered users - 5
3. Number of articles added or improved on Wikimedia projects 100 100+
4. Number of recorded bird species during photowalks - 200+
5. Number of new images of birds uploaded to Wikimedia Commons 500+ 631[9]
5 a. Number of new species uploaded to the targeted list 100+ 160[10]
5 b. Number of Valued images - 21[11]
5 c. Number of Quality images - 140[12]
5 d. Number of Featured pictures - 4[13]
6. Distinct images used in Wikimedia projects - 13.00%[14]

  - Some are still in nomination or still in progress.

Photo map edit

 
Location map for uploaded photograph
 
User: Nirmal Dulal and User: Prasan Shrestha during Koshi Tappu Widllife Reserve tour.

Good Sides of the Project edit

  • Coordination and collaboration: It has built up nice coordination and relationships with Bird Conservation Nepal, bird experts in Nepal, and reputed authors. Their collaboration and active participation in this project by way of photo uploading, species identification, and article creation have enriched Wikipedia. 
  • Team's work: The Wiki Loves Birds project has collaborated with a good number of professional photographers who have great equipment for macro photography. So this project has formed an enthusiastic team of photographers who are willing to contribute to Wikimedia Commons.
  • Creation and expansion of articles: This project has created and developed more than 100 articles on birds of Nepal on Nepali Wikipedia, which has upheld the very motto of the Wikimedia movement of knowledge development and sharing.
  • Number and Quality of photograph: This time we were able to upload numbers of quality images of birds found in Nepal to Wikimedia Commons.
 
User:Nabin Regmi is taking a photograph of a bird.

Bad Sides of the Project edit

  • Weather: This year, an unwanted rain disturbed our plan for a photowalk.
  • Less Participation from Community: On October 08, 2023, I put a proposal on Nepali Wikipedia Vilagepump regarding the call for participation in this event[15], but only a few Nepali Wikipedians showed interest in it. However, we started the project by collaborating with BCN and the Friends of Birds Group.

References edit