Visit this wildlife reserve for the overwintering Black-necked Cranes and its excellent walking trails with sweeping views over the pine covered slopes. The cranes are attracted to Phobjikha by the abundance of dwarf bamboo growing in the
marshlands. They are highly respected by the Bhutanese, who have buried all the electricity cables in the valley to ensure their safety. These birds arrive in November and return to Tibet around mid-February.
A special festival welcomes them with masked dancers performing like the graceful birds. Flocks of majestic cranes leave their roosting grounds in search of food before dawn. Apart from the cranes, there are For an extra charge, local guides can take visitors to hides to watch the birds without disturbing them.
Cranes aside, 14 species of endangered birds have been spotted in the valley, including the imperial eagle. The surrounding forests have wildlife like wild boar, barking and sambar deer, bears, leopards and the Serow, a Himalayan goat-antelope.
