Every winter several large ponds in Biral upazila, Dinajpur, come alive with the calls of migratory birds. One of the best known is Matian Dighi in No 3 Dhamair union. Thousands of visiting birds have come again this year, and from before the Fajr call to prayer until sunset the area around Matian village rings with their noise.

With the birds' arrival, the whole dighi has taken on a new look again this year. Bird lovers are heading out from town to the banks of Matian Dighi to see them.

Local resident Jibit Chandra Roy said most of the birds are lesser whistling ducks, balihans and cormorants. Since the start of winter many people have come to see the migratory birds. Hunters also come with slingshots, arrows and guns. "We stop them, because these birds are our country's guests. Besides, bird hunting is banned by law. So no one dares hunt the birds," he said.

Visitors crowd the place every day to see the birds, which come from various cold countries, and the natural beauty of the water. The whole area is filled with birdsong, and bird lovers come from far away to catch a glimpse. When evening falls the birds leave the dighi for various places and return at dawn, spending the whole day splashing and diving in the water.

Fardin Hasan Turjo, an SSC candidate this year who came from Balubari neighbourhood in town to see the birds, said: "I had heard that many visiting birds come to Matian Dighi, so I came to see. My heart is full after seeing flocks of birds. I have never before seen so many birds playing in the water and flying in the sky together."

Wahedul Alam Artist, who owns land beside the dighi, said: "As every year, thousands of birds have come to this dighi next to my land this year. We make sure there is no trouble in the sanctuary of these visiting birds. Many people come here every day to see them. Anyone who visits Matian Dighi once in such a charming setting will be enchanted by the birds' calls and their play in the water."

Local chairman Md Moslem Uddin said Matian Dighi is famous for its birds. Few people know the village's name, but people across the district know the name Matian Dighi because of the birds. "Along with Mosaddek Hossain, the owner of the dighi, we have spoken to local people so that there is no problem in the visiting birds' habitat. A close watch is being kept so that no one can hunt our guests from abroad," he said.

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