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TAM DAO NATIONAL PARK

VIETNAM
LOCALE

Area (ha):23,350
Altitude (m):800-1592
# Species:399
# Excl Vagrants:399
# Endemics:0
# Near Endemics:8
Species/100 ha:1.7
Habitat: Lowland and montane evergreen forest, elfin forest, plantation forest

ABOUT THE BIRDING

Tam Dao National Park offers opportunities to see some of the specialty birds of northern Vietnam. However, birding can be very difficult because the region is blanketed in heavy fog very frequently. The best time to visit are the months of November and December when fog is less frequent. Habitat in the park is primarily montane and lowland evergreen forest, though some of the park is plantation forest. There is also some elfin forest at the higher elevations. The prime birding route known as the Water Tank Trail is being upgraded into a road, which may greatly affect future birding there. Important birds previously seen there which may still be possible are Blue-naped Pitta and Short-tailed Parrotbill. Another commonly used birding route is the Television Tower above the town Trail, which entails 500 steps up the the Television Tower. This trail can be very crowded with noisy students on weekends and holidays. Birds of special interest there are Chestnut Bulbul, Green Cochoa (infrequently seen), and Gray Laughingthrush. Finally, the route to Nung village from the park headquartersw goes through good forest and is a good place to look for Ratchet-tailed Treepie and Black-throated Laughingthrush.

LOCATION OF SITE

Tam Dao is located 70km northwest of Ha Noi and is reached via National Road 2. The national park is another 13km along National Road 2B.