Alidewna in Mahadebpur upazila has become known as the bird village. Around 12 kilometres west of the upazila headquarters, the village rings all day with birdsong. Thousands of birds shelter in its trees, and the villagers seem to wake up to their calls.

Some 20 years ago, birds of many species began settling in the village's bamboo groves and big trees, and a bird colony grew up. The villagers took the initiative to make it a safe home. The species that shelter there include red herons, egrets, Asian openbills, night herons, cranes, kingfishers, cormorants and doves, along with countless unnamed birds.

The village is now called the bird village, and tourists from Naogaon and other districts are charmed when they visit. Locals have declared the village a hunting-free area. On entering the village, signboards shaped like different birds can be seen on the trees along both sides of the narrow road, bearing laws against bird hunting and awareness messages.

Everyone in the village takes responsibility for the birds' safety, so countless birds come there all year round. In the breeding season in particular, people gather every day to see the beautiful sight of openbills and egrets. For the birds' added protection, local bird lovers, social workers and environmentalists are demanding that the government declare it a sanctuary and develop it as a tourist centre.

Nirmal Barman, president of the Alidewna Bird Conservation Committee and a Bangabandhu Award winner, said: "Birds are friends of nature. It is out of love for them that this village has become a home for birds. Bird hunters are not allowed into the village. If birds are injured in a natural disaster or for any other reason, they are treated and returned to their nests. If the village is developed as a tourist area, revenue will rise and jobs will be created for the unemployed."

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mizanur Rahman said: "Alidewna in the district has won a place in the hearts of people across the country as a traditional bird village. We are trying to develop the village as a tourist centre along with a bird sanctuary."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.