ABOUT THE BIRDING

Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is situated on the border with Laos, contiguous with Hin Namno National Protected Area in Laos. It contains some of the most extensive karst limestone cave systems in the world. The habitat is largely limestone forest. Access is difficult and requires visitors be accompanied by an official park guide. Foreigners need special permission in advance. Hence, birders rarely visit the park. Two of the primary target species, fortunately, can be seen outside park boundaries. These are Limestone Leaf-Warbler and Sooty Babbler. The latter species is of special interest since it is globally threatened and had been unrecorded between its initial discovery in Laos in the 1920's and its rediscovery in Phong Nha Ke in 1994. The park is also home for theHa Tinh Leaf Monkey and a black form of uncertain status, both evidently subspecies of Francois's Langur, along with the globally threatened Red-shanked Douc Langur.

LOCATION OF SITE

Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is located on the border between Laos and Vietnam 5 hours by road north from Bach Ma National Park and about 4 hours from Hue.

OTHER LOCALES

• Bach Ma National Park
• Cat Tien National Park
• Cuc Phuong National Park
• Dalat Plateau
• Di Linh
• Lo Xo Pass
• Tam Dao National Park
• Yok Don National Park