An eight-member team of Bangladesh Bird Club started its operation for the Coastal Water Bird Census from Bhola on Friday.
In the morning, the team started its nine-day survey on a trawler from the Kheyaghat in the district.
One of the team members, mountaineer and bird watcher MA Muhit, told Dhaka Tribune that they would be travelling to over 50 shoals in Bhola as part of the census.
According to the bird watchers, many ducks and beach birds of different species live in the chars of Bhola.
Since 1987, the census has been carried out in the wetlands by bird lovers, bird watchers and researchers of the country. It usually occurs in the second and third weeks of January worldwide.
Researcher Sayem Chowdhury said the number of birds in the country's coastal areas was declining daily. “Moreover, the safe havens for these birds are also reducing in number. This will impact nature, and therefore, everyone should be aware of protecting bird sanctuaries,” he said.
The team also includes bird watchers Tareq Anu, Nazim Uddin Prince and Md Foisal, Wildlife Conservation Officer under the Forest Department Johra Mila, Senior Program Assistant of IUCN Bangladesh Jennifer Azmery and Research Associate of Prokrity O Jibon Foundation Shihab Khaledin.
Wetlands International, an international organization, publishes a book based on the census. It is considered as an important document on wetland birds.
