Keutan village in Ranisankail upazila of Thakurgaon is surrounded by natural beauty. The Kulik river flows right through the middle of the village, its banks lined with trees of many kinds. Standing out above them all, one shimul (silk cotton) tree seems to add a new beauty to the landscape.

Every winter the area rings with the calls of thousands of cormorants on the branches of the shimul tree, and crowds of people come from far and near every day to see the sight.

On a visit, hundreds of cormorants were seen chattering in the branches of the tree by the Kulik. The tree seems to have become a safe sanctuary for the birds, their calls filled the whole area, and a good number of people had gathered to watch.

Locals complain, however, that fewer cormorants and other birds are being seen this time because of hunting. Hunters do not listen when locals try to stop them, and residents demand an end to cormorant hunting.

Village resident Anwarul Islam said the birds that spend the night in the shimul tree leave in the morning to look for food and return at dusk. "It looks very beautiful," he said. He added that the tree once drew a great many birds but numbers have fallen sharply, and he believes more may come in future if steps are taken to protect them.

The tree's owner, Jadab Roy, said: "People come here from far away every day because the birds come. It is nice to watch. Every year, towards the end of February, when they leave, my heart feels empty."

Thakurgaon bird lover Rezaul Hafiz Rahi said: "The birds have added to the beauty of the area, so the administration must take the necessary steps to keep the shimul tree safe."

Thakurgaon Deputy Commissioner Kamruzzaman Selim said birds keep the balance of our environment, so everyone must be tolerant towards them. Necessary action will be taken against bird hunters, he said.

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