Migratory birds arriving to northern water bodies

Thousands of migratory birds have started arriving to the riverine areas and water bodies in the northern region of the country from the Himalayan and Siberian regions. 

Locals and officials said the number of arriving migratory birds is higher in Char Narayanpur, Jatrapur, Noonkhawa, Astomirchar, Noyarhat, Mohanganj, Begumganj, Hatia and Kodalkati areas in the northern river basins.

They also said, a good number of Bali Duck, `Samukal`, Bright, Rose King, Bali Lenja, `Sorail`, `Boikal`, `Nilshir`, `Piyang`, `Pankouri`, `Rangamuri`, Pintail, `Pantamukhi`, `Chokha-chokhi` and `Khonjona` are now flocking to the northern region.

The number of migratory birds especially on the Brahmaputra riverbank in Kurigram is little higher this winter compared to the previous years. However, the migratory birds are not uncountable like 20 to 30 years back due to reduction of water bodies, said Shawkat Ali Sarker, Bir Bikram, Chairman of Chilmari upazila.

Mamunur Rashid, Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of RDRS Bangladesh, said birds coming here due to the falling temperature in the Himalayan, Siberian, Nepal, Xinxian and Mongolian regions during the winters.

Khandker Mesbahul Islam, Horticulture Specialist of the Department of Agriculture Extension, said the migratory birds usually consume here small fishes, insects, small snails and watery plants.

Officials, experts and commoners said, a limited numbers of the birds are flocking now and numbers will increase as the temperature dips in the Siberian regions in the coming weeks.

They also expressed concern as poachers have already started catching and selling migratory birds at many places and asked for strict application of prevailing laws to stop such acts.

DailyBangladesh/Nishi