With little disturbance from visitors, the number of migratory birds at Jahangirnagar University (JU) has risen this year. More than 7,000 migratory birds of 12 species have come to the campus this winter, which officials say is the highest in two decades.

Bird expert Professor Kamrul Hasan of the Department of Zoology said a bird census was held on the university's lakes on 16 and 17 January, counting migratory birds on all the lakes at once. The census found 12 species and more than 7,000 birds.

"In other years we found 5 or 6 species, but this time it is more than double. And usually no more than 5,000 birds came. So many birds have not been seen before," he said.

According to the zoology department, migratory birds began coming to JU in 1986, but there are no clear figures for how many came then. Since 2000, no more than 5,000 birds have been found. This year's count of more than 7,000 is the highest in two decades.

Bird experts believe the number of species and birds rose because visitors were barred while the campus was closed for the coronavirus.

According to the census, the species that came were Nakta duck, Khunte duck, Jiria duck, Bhuti duck, Lenja duck, African comb duck, Chhoto Sorali, Boro Sorali, Patari duck, greater stork, Phuluri duck and Eurasian Sinthi duck.

Professor Mohammad Mostafa Feeroz of the zoology department, also a bird expert, said some new species came to the lakes this year. They visit other wetlands in the country but did not come to JU's lakes because of disturbance by visitors, and even when they did come they often left. This year that did not happen, he said.

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