The story
Black-Necked Crane Farewell Festival in Bumdeling Valley
Bumdeling Valley in Trashiyangtse hosts Bhutan's other black-necked crane festival, this one celebrating the birds' February departure back toward their Tibetan breeding grounds rather than their November arrival, which is marked separately at Gangtey in the Phobjikha valley. Traditional performances by the Yangtsep, Brokpa, Doyap, Mangdep and Layap communities accompany conservation activities like a crane conservation walk, tying the event to eastern Bhutan's own wildlife and cultural identity.
Two valleys on opposite sides of Bhutan host festivals for the same endangered bird at opposite ends of its Bhutanese winter, and it is worth being precise about which is which.