Number of migratory birds in the water bodies, marshy lands and major rivers in northern region has marked sharp falls in recent years due to climate change.
Elderly people said a good number of Bali Duck, Samukal, Bright, Rose King, Bali Lenja, Chity, Sorail, Boikal, Nilshir, Piyang, Pankouri, Rangamuri, Pintail, Pantamukhi, Chokha-chokhi and Khonjona from the Himalayan and Siberian regions were being found flocking to the region.
But less number of these birds is now being found in Noonkhawa, Madarganj, Narayanpur, Berubari, Jatrapur, Begumganj, Hatia, Kodalkati, Ostomirchar, Noyarhat, Mohanganj, Ketabkhan and Tajerhat in the Brahmaputra, Teesta, Dudhkumar and Dharla rivers.
It happens due to adverse climate change in the Himalayan, Siberian, Nepal, Xinxian and Mongolian regions.
“The number of arriving migratory birds has been decreasing in the region during the winter season indicating further declinations in their number in near future,” Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid said.
Horticulture Specialist of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Khandker Md Mesbahul Islam says migratory birds generally take temporary shelters in swamps, char areas, beels, haors and extended water bodies before they fly back from March.
“The birds are no longer seen in uncountable numbers due to climate change, reduction of the water bodies and depletion of many species of sweet water fishes,” said former Director of the DAE Kamal Shariful Alam.
Associate Director- Agriculture of BRAC International (South Asia & Africa) Dr M A Mazid said, “The adverse climate change threatens the bio- diversity.”
As a result, the number of arriving migratory birds has been reducing and their duration of stay shortening, he says.
Araz Ullah, 80, Abdul Jalil, 75, Nazim Uddin, 75, and Khoka Miah, 72 said number of migratory birds from the Himalayan and Siberian regions had reduced alarmingly in recent years.