Every winter, ponds, haors, canals and beels fill with colourful birds whose names most people do not know. We know them as migratory birds, and they arrive in Bangladesh in flocks to survive.

These birds live in regions such as Assam, the Himalayas, Siberia, the Philippines, Australia, the plateau of south-western China, Russia, Finland and the valleys of Tibet. In winter these places see extreme cold and snowfall, and temperatures stay below freezing most of the time. Severe cold also brings a shortage of food, so living and feeding become much harder for the birds.

The birds then fly in flocks to regions where it is less cold, and many make their way to different parts of Bangladesh. Among them are the balihash, patihash, lejhash, perihash, chomahash, jolpipi, rajsorali, lalbuba, pankouri, egrets, shamukkona, chokhpokhim saras, kaima, shrike, gang kobutor, bonhur, horial, narundi and manikjora.

Many people take their families and children to see migratory birds at this time of year. But do you know where to go to see them?

In Dhaka, migratory birds can be seen at Pilkhana, the Mirpur zoo and the lake beside Mirpur Cantonment. To see them in large flocks, however, you need to go to Jahangirnagar University. The scenic campus, which has become a tourist attraction, was declared a sanctuary for migratory birds in 2014.

Sylhet, rich in haors, rivers and hills, gives the birds a welcome refuge. They can be seen at Hakaluki Haor, which stretches across Sylhet division, and at Baikka Beel in Moulvibazar. Hail Haor, Patrakhola lake, and Tanguar Haor and Roa Beel in Sunamganj also ring with the calls of migratory birds every year.

Sandwip, Urir Char and Charandwip in the port city of Chattogram are popular places to watch migratory birds. Also well known are Nijhum Dwip, Hatiya island, Char Osman or Shahebanichar, Char Piya, Boyar Char and Charbhata in Noakhali district, part of Chattogram division.

In the tourist town of Cox's Bazar, Moheshkhali and Sonadia, and Saint Martin's Island, Shah Porir Dwip and Whykong in Teknaf also fill with colourful migratory birds in winter.

Migratory birds become more frequent every winter at Durgasagar in greater Barishal, and at Monpura island, Char Kukri-Mukri and Dal Char in Bhola district.

On the southern coast of the Sundarbans, places such as Char Manik, Kalkini or Char Nizam are crowded with people, yet many kinds of little-known migratory birds can be seen there in winter. Besides Kuakata, the popular tourist spot in Patuakhali district, the birds can be seen playing in the water at Khepupara or Kalapara, Char Montaz, Sonar Char, and even on the Agunmukha and Galachipa rivers.

In the north, flocks of migratory birds can be seen at Nilsagar in Nilphamari, at Hura in Sirajganj, and on Chalan Beel, which stretches across Pabna, Sirajganj and Natore.

Flocks are also seen every winter at Bhitargarh in Panchagarh and on the chars of the Padma. In the central region, the haor at Kalmakanda in Netrokona, and Nikli Haor and Kaladia in Kishoreganj, are well known for bird watching.

According to government figures, there should be 12 sanctuaries across the country for migratory birds to move freely. Sadly, sanctuaries in the true sense have still not been fully developed.

Under section 26 of the Bangladesh Wildlife Act of 1974, hunting and killing birds is a punishable offence. Even so, migratory birds are being hunted illegally. Indiscriminate felling of trees and heavy use of pesticides on crops are also making their habitat hostile.

Every year, rare migratory birds that have flown thousands of miles fall victim to greedy hunters. They are caught in nets, poisoned with bait or shot with pellets, and taken to market for sale. Some people even catch them for fun. As a result, their numbers in Bangladesh are falling compared with the past.

Many tourists startle the birds by going too close, and some throw stones from a distance to enjoy the sight of them taking flight. This harms the birds' freedom to move.

The beauty of nature is timeless and unspoilt, and it should not be destroyed in the course of enjoying it. Migratory birds are not only part of that beauty but an important element in keeping the environment in balance. The laws made to protect them must be enforced strictly to save their refuges, people living around their habitats must come forward, and visitors must also play their part in keeping this natural wonder alive.

The writer, Raihan Ahmed Tamim, reported from Jahangirnagar University.

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