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PHU SUAN SAI NATIONAL PARK

THAILAND
LOCALE

Area (SqKm):117
Altitude (m):600-1350
# Species:286
# Excl Vagrants:286
# Endemics:0
# Near Endemics:0
Species/100 SqKm:244.4
Habitat: Evergreen forest, bamboo

ABOUT THE BIRDING

Birding in Phu Suan Sai National Park is along trails or roadsides. The main birding trail starts just after the headquarters and campsite and is well marked. The trail passes through dense forest understory, bamboo, open forest, and evergreen forest, eventually emerging onto the road about 1½km north of the HQ. All four target birds can be found along this trail, but they're difficult to see. There is also a network of very steep trails that go up the mountain from behind the HQ and campsite areas. Early sections of these trails go through bamboo and are good for bamboo specialists.

The paved road that runs through the park provides access to most of the forested areas. Some of the best birding is along the first kilometer after the western checkpoint and the 4-kilometer stretch just past the campsite. Large bamboo stands along the road are home to Bamboo Woodpecker and Pin-tailed Parrotfinch, especially during breeding season. There is also roadside birding outside the park along highway 1268 in both directions and along several tracks branching off into scrub and forest habitat.

LOCATION OF SITE

Phu Suan Sai National Park is located in northeast Thailand near the extreme southwestern border of Laos. It's a remote park reached by single lane roads through the mountains. It's about 320km from Chiang Mai (about 6 hours) or about 540km (8½ hours) from Bangkok.