As an avid birdwatcher, he has spent many weeks traversing Bhutan, identifying prime locations to observe the most coveted bird species, such as the elusive Wren Babblers, Pheasants, Trogons, and other notable species found in Bhutan. His explorations have contributed to expanding the knowledge of many species that were previously poorly documented.. Norbu has also been a pioneer among local birding guides, as he was one of the first to lead international birding tours independently. Norbu has also collaborated with Tom Stephenson, his birding colleague and co-author of The Warbler Guide, to conduct extensive recordings of Bhutan’s bird songs. They have amassed a vast library of local bird songs, which Norbu has generously shared with Cornell University’s Macaulay Library and the public site, Xeno-canto.