Birds of many colours can be seen across the beel, and their chirping can be heard. It is hard to name them all at a glance as they flap their wings over the clear water. This is the scene at Burungi Beel, amid the crop fields of Nepaltali union in Gabtali upazila of Bogura.

By the Bengali seasons it is now the month of Magh, but cold winds have been blowing since late autumn. Since then, birds from distant lands have been crowding the country's wetlands, travelling long distances from various European countries. As at other beels, thousands of migratory birds have gathered at Burungi Beel.

They have come from Norway, Siberia and other cold countries in search of warmth. Burungi Beel now seems a sanctuary for birds. The small beel is surrounded by green water hyacinth, with clear water rippling in the middle and flocks of birds moving all around.

The small beel resounds with various birds, including lesser whistling duck, Asian openbill, red-wattled lapwing, common sandpiper, citrine wagtail, great egret, Indian pond heron, lalche bok, pati shilafidda, little cormorant, common kingfisher, white-throated kingfisher, pheasant-tailed jacana and green bee-eater.

With watchful citizens and law enforcement, bird hunting around the beel has largely stopped, so the birds are enjoying their best time undisturbed. Every day, travel lovers crowd around the beel to watch and listen to the birds.

Local people said the beautiful, colourful birds, many of whose names they do not know, flap their wings and roam the beel. The sight of some birds lying in wait to catch fish is so beautiful that many people take it upon themselves to stop others throwing stones at the birds or catching them. The sight of openbills looking for food among the water hyacinth or pond herons catching fish is lovely even from the bank.

Siam Mahmud, who came from the capital, said: "I came to Bogura for a wedding. Locals told me there was an enchanting beel full of birds here, so I came to Burungi Beel with my family. To be honest, I have never seen so many birds together before."

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