Located in Mekong delta, Vietnam, Tram Chim national park was nominated by the Provincial Authorities of Dong Thap Province as a site for restoring the original Plain of Reeds ecosystem in 1985 by zoning 5,000 ha as a reserve. In 1992, the Prime Minister issued a special order for prompt action to save the Sarus Crane and the wetland ecosystem of Tram Chim. In 1994 Tram Chim was decreed a National Reserve of 7,500 ha and in 1999 was recognised as a National Park. The site is currently being listed under the Ramsar Convention as international important wetland

The total area of Tram Chim National Park is c.7,740 ha. Canals, totalling 53 km in length, surround and bisect the site creating six habitat management plots. Melaleuca was planted for production in the past and now forms a substantial inundated forest. The site is inundated annually to a depth of 2-3 metres during the wet season. There are 22,000 people living adjacent to the boundaries of the site. 
There are more than 300 bird species have been recorded in the park, however many of them are very rare or no longer seen recently. Some species have declined their population rapidly, especially Sarus Crane population has dropped from more 200 birds to less than 20 birds in 10 years. On the other hand, many populations are increasing such as Asian Openbill, Oriental Darter, Cormorants, Egrets, etc. These changing have alarmed scientists and conservationists to consider, we need to understand why it has been happening and how to sustain this unique ecosystem.

Whatever happens, since it was listed as Ramsar site in 2012, Tram Chim national become one of attractive ecotourism destinations. Number of tourists visiting the site to learn the wetland and its birds. To help visitors understand what they going to see there, by this post, we would like to introduce some of birds that easy to see by naked-eyes or binoculars. These birds are also cover most of the "normal seen" at bird santuaries in the Mekong delta areas.

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Family Ardeidae (Egrets, Herons, Bitterns)

Ardeidae members are easy to see in the park if you travel by boat along canals, , they're resident and can be seen year round. Most of non-birder visitors will be not able to distinguish different among egrets spcies as well as among herons, here are some keys

1 - Egrets are white birds, they have long legs, long neck and uasally stand in flooding grassland, edge of cannal or paddy ricefield. There are 4 species of "white" egrets, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret and Cattle Egret. By its names, you can understand their relative sizes are big, medium and small however you only can tell when they stand together, otherwise no reference!

Little Egret has black bill, yellow feet

Both Great Egret and Intermediate have yellow bill, black legs and feet but the latter has traight neck, black bill tip.

Finally, the Cattle Egret. It is easy to regconise in breeding season when plumage becomes orange however a bit challenge in non-breeding when you see from distance, it looks quite like Intermediate Egret but very short neck. It usually seen on paddy field, on the top of tree or following cows/buffaloes 

>>>>>>>> Next for Herons

2 - Herons have shape like egrets but they are not "white", some have grey color (Grey Heron, Black-crowned Night-heron), some have redish color (Pond Herons, Purple Heron). They are also very common and easy to see year round.

Grey Heron - very big, long neck and usually seen along dike/cannal

 Purple Heron - like Grey Heron but reddish, thinner neck

Chinese Pond Heron and Javan Pond Heron - very difficult to identify between them except in breeding plumage. Chinese Pond Heron is much more common than the other

Black-crowned Night-heron - this common bird usually seen in flock roosting on the tree during day-time. At night, they fly out to find food 

>>>>>>>> Next for Bitterns

3 - Bitterns are small size herons, they are difficult to see unless someone disturbs to make them fly out from bush/grass vegtatation

Yellow Bittern and Cinnamon Bittern - they are very similar but the Yellow Bittern has lighter color, when it flies you should see bi-color on the wings and body

Cinnamon Bitter is more reddish, female looks streaky. It has only one color on the wings when it flies  

Striated Heron / Little Heron - Although named heron but its behavior and shape like bitterns

>>>>>>>> Next for Storks

Family Ciconiidae (Storks)

Storks are large waterbirds, long-legged, long-necked with long, stout bills. There are five stork species have been listed in Tram Chim however the Black-necked Stork is not seen for many years.

Asian Openbill - This spcies is very common in the park, the population is estimated more than 20,000. They eat Golden Apple Snail so they help to control toxic invasive animal. However its increasing population might affect to other birds and ecosystem. 

Painted Stork - Commonly seen at certain time, they come to the park during Novermber to March for feeding. The color looks very attractive as it has lotus color wings

Both Woolly-necked Stork and Lesser Adjutant are rare

Lesser Adjutant has no feather on the neck, looks very big and heavy, sometimes it soar like Raptors.

>>>>>>>> Next for Cormorants

Family Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants)

In contrast to Egrests, Cormorants are wholebody black, it is difficult to identify three species occur in Tram Chim. The Little Cormorant is smallest size, short bill and dark eyes. Great Cormorant is almost 2 times bigger than Little while the Indian Cormorant is medium. Both Indian and Great have blue eyes but the latter has white throat

Family Anhingidae (Anhingas)

Oriental Darter or Anhinga (snack head) is a dark bird looks similar to cormorants but lighter color, espcially long neck and pointed bill. It usually feeding in the water and when swimming, its neck moving like a snack.

Family Pelecanidae (Pelicans)

There is only one spcies of pelican in Tram Chim, it is a big bird with long flat bill, under its bill is a "bag". Rare spcies, seen very occasionally last few years.

>>>>>>>> Next for Ducks

Family Anatidae (Ducks)

Family Podicipedidae (Grebe) 

Grebe is not duck however many people has a mistake in recognising but if you look at the bill, grebe has pointed bill (not flat as duck). There is only one species of this group in the Mekong, both resident and migrate to the region and more likely to see in winter time

>>>>>>>> Next for Rails, Crakes and Coots)

Family Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)

>>>>>>>> Next for Shorebirds (Charadriiformes)

Family Recurvirostridae

Family Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings) 

Family Glareolidae 

>>>>>>>> Next for Kingfishers

Family Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)

>>>>>>>> Next for Bee-eaters and Rollers

Family Meropidae (Bee-eaters)

Family Coraciidae (Rollers)

>>>>>>>> Next for Raptors

Family Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)

>>>>>>>> Next for Cuckoos, Malkoha & Coucal

Family Cuculidae (Cuckoos)

>>>>>>>> Next for Drongos & Swallows

Hirundinidae (Swallows)

Family Dicruridae (Drongos) 

Family Corvidae 

Family Rhipiduridae 

Family Muscicapidae 

>>>>>>>> Next for Starlings & Mynas

Family Sturnidae (Starlings)

>>>>>>>> Next for Doves & Pigeon

 

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