As many as 104 species were identified at Thano during a birdwatching camp organised by the Uttarakhand Forest Department. The three-day camp was organised with the primary purpose of developing Thano as a birdwatching destination for ecotourism. The highlights of the bird seen included the Chestnut-eared Bunting and White-capped Bunting, both passage migrants, and now headed up to the Himalayas to breed, Oriental Pied Hornbill, seven species of woodpeckers amongst numerous other bird species.
A total of 30 people including forest guards, members of the local community from Thano and Devalsari, tourists and tourism practitioners from Rishikesh and Jhudungu village participated in the camp. According to lokesh Ohri of REACH, Thano offers wonderful opportunities for incorporating cultural heritage as a major component of the ecotourism initiative in the area as it was a pass, a hill passageway for traders, pastoralists, pilgrims and others traveling from the plains of India into the hills and has unique position in the history of forestry as also its significance as an ancient centre of Naga worship.