AMTALI, BARGUNA, Jan 7: The diversity of migratory birds along the coastal belt, including Amtali in Barguna, has declined sharply compared to previous decades. Areas that once bustled with the calls and movement of winter visitors now see far fewer birds, raising concerns among bird watchers and environmental experts.
Sources said that during the 1990s, more than a hundred species of migratory birds used to arrive in this region each winter. At present, that number has dropped drastically to around 20 to 30 species. Although the coastal wetlands and char areas traditionally come alive with migratory birds at the onset of winter, various obstacles are causing a steady decline in their presence year after year.
Bird experts warned that if this trend continues, the melodious calls of migratory birds may eventually disappear entirely from the char lands of the area. Observers believe global climate change is a major factor behind the reduction. They also pointed out that about three decades ago, crops in Bangladesh were largely cultivated using organic manure, whereas today toxic chemical fertilisers are widely used, posing serious risks to birds and their habitats.
Another major threat comes from a group of unscrupulous hunters who kill birds using poison and sell them in local markets. As a result, birds no longer consider many areas safe for feeding or shelter. Meanwhile, the green tree cover across regions surrounded by the Payra, Bishkhali and Andharmanik rivers is being rapidly destroyed. Trees are being openly and illegally felled, further depriving birds of safe nesting and resting places.
In addition, fishermen are indiscriminately using current nets in rivers. This practice is reducing the availability of fish that birds depend on for food, while many birds are also dying after getting entangled in the nets.
Amtali Upazila Forest Officer Md Moniruzzaman said the Forest Department remains on high alert to protect the roaming areas of migratory birds in coastal regions during the winter season and is taking measures to conserve their habitats.
