Migratory birds have started coming to Bangladesh in anticipation of the arrival of winter
Migratory birds or guest birds have started arriving in Bangladesh in anticipation of winter’s arrival. According to experts, these birds will be seen in several water bodies in the plain areas after the next few months, including the Bangladesh Haors and coastal.
These birds come to Bangladesh in winter, and after staying in different parts of the country by the end of March, the birds return.
During the stay in Bangladesh, the significant presence of these birds will be seen mainly in the Haors and on the coast of several islands, such as Tanguar Haor and Hatiya in Noakhali and Sonadia in Cox’s Bazar. In winter, birds of various colors roam in water bodies in different parts of Bangladesh.
Many visitors gather to see these birds in the reservoir of Jahangirnagar University near Dhaka. Apart from Mirpur Zoo Lake, Barisal’s Durga Sagar, Nilphamari’s Nilsagar Dighi, Sirajganj’s Hura, and Sunamganj’s Tanguar Haor, these migratory birds are also observed in Nijhum Dwip, Dhal Char, Char Kukri-Mukri or Dublar Char in winter.
Sumaiya Akhtar, a student of Jahangirnagar University, said that during the winter, the water bodies of the university create a different kind of beauty in the presence of birds.
At one time, we thought these migratory birds were coming from Russia and Siberia, but now there is a different opinion.
Migratory bird expert Sarwar Alam Dipu has researched these birds. He says that the information that these birds come from Russia and Siberia is not correct.
Instead, these birds come mainly from northern Mongolia, a part of Tibet, parts of China, Russia, and the tundra region of Siberia.
From the North Pole, some areas of Europe and Asia, and the surrounding areas of the Himalayas, the birds travel a long way to India and Bangladesh, where relatively fewer cold falls, and food is available.
In March, when the temperature rises in this region and the snow start melting in their native areas, the birds return to their home after a long journey.
However, according to experts, birds do not only come to this region, but birds travel to different parts of the world under other conditions, which is part of their struggle for survival.
In 1994, more than 0.8 million guest birds came to Bangladesh, and in 2014, this number fell below 0.2 million. In the last 20 years, the arrival of about 0.6 million birds has decreased. However, recently the number is like 0.35 million.
Sarwar Alam Dipu, a Bird expert, says, ”Mainly in Bangladesh, the water in the reservoirs decreases during the winter. At that time, some materials such as green leaves, snails, and oysters were these birds’ favorite food.
Because of that, the water bodies of Bangladesh became a suitable place for their food at that time. Wherever the birds come from will cover in the snow in the winter, and there will be food shortages.
That is why some birds come to this area for a suitable area to live in. They will go back again at the end of March,” he said.
According to him, in some areas of India, too, migratory birds are seen making short-term abodes. However, apart from Bangladesh and India, these birds are also seen in two areas of Nepal.
Some sanctuaries have been created so the guest birds can stay safely in Bangladesh. Hunting or killing these birds has been made a punishable offense.
Sarwar Alam says that usually ducks and beach birds come to Bangladesh. Citing a survey, he said that about 300,000 duck species and 50,000 to 100,000 beach species come to Bangladesh in a season.
Among them, the birds of the duck species are seen in the Haor region and the coastal areas, especially Sonadia Island, Dhalchar, and Char Kukri Mukri. Some Red-breasted Clycassers of European regions are also seen occasionally.
There are 20-25 species of migratory birds that can be seen in the Jahangirnagar University reservoir alone during winter.
Mr. Alam said that research has shown that birds come to Bangladesh after traveling 10/11 thousand kilometers. We need areas like Haor or small beach areas like Sonadia for the survival of these birds.
