Black-necked Crane Visitor Centre, RSPN

Location :

The BNCVC is one of the most visited Information Centres in Bhutan. It serves as a resource and information center on sustainable ecotourism activities and environment education and conservation programs in Phobjikha valley.
The center is housed in a single storey building overlooking the picturesque wetlands which is the Black-necked Crane habitat. This vantage location of the center allows visitors to relax and spot Black-necked Cranes and other bird species in the valley. The center’s observatory is equipped with bird watching telescopes
and binoculars.
The Centre has a display room where interpretative panels and information on the black-necked cranes, flora and fauna, community life and culture of the valley, etc. are displayed. Adjacent to the display room is a mini-theatre hall that doubles as a conference room. The Centre also has a souvenir shop where you can buy crane souvenirs. The mini-theatre is
used for screening of documentaries, films and presentations on Black-necked Cranes both for orientation and educational purposes.

About the Valley

Gangtey - Phobji (Phobjikha) valley is a wide glacial valley with a central stream meandering through the open grassland and thickets of dwarf bamboo. Farmlands occupy the peripheral slopes where potatoes and turnips are grown. The forests beyond the farms are mostly coniferous. The general vegetation is composed of mainly blue pine (Pinus wallichiana), birch (Betula utilis), maple (Acer spp.) and several species of rhododendrons. The Central Valley inhabited by the cranes in winter has mostly dwarf bamboo. The repeated grazing of the bamboos by the local cattle and horses in summer prepares the ground for the wintering Cranes. The magnificent Black-necked Cranes heighten the breathtaking scenery of Phobjikha in winter respiratory.

Physical geography & climate Elevation: 2,900 m a s l
Size: 161.9 km2
Population: 4,716
Economy: Agriculture based
Lowest mean temperature: – 4.8oC in December
Maximum mean temperature: 19.9o C in August.
Annual rainfall: 1, 472 to 2,189 mm annually.