The Atrai river in Mahadebpur upazila of Naogaon is alive with the calls of thousands of birds, and people on both banks wake to their chirping. Several local young men are working to build a "safe home" for the migratory birds. Seeing the birds roaming freely, bird lovers Kazi Nazmul, Ainul Islam, Moklesur Rahman, Ekramul Hossain and others took the initiative in 2010 to create a sanctuary.

According to local sources, migratory birds have been coming to the Atrai for the past seven years, taking shelter on the river because they feel safe. They start arriving at the beginning of winter, when the water is low, and leave again when the water rises. The birds stay on the river for about seven to eight months a year.

Although the birds make their home on the Atrai, at night they move to nearby Bil Mohammadpur, Ramchandrapur, Madhuban and a few other places, returning around dawn.

A visit found that Madhuban-Kunjaban village lies about a kilometre north of the upazila headquarters. Fruit and timber trees line both sides of the road into the village, and awareness signboards against bird hunting and for wildlife protection hang from the trees. People have also been told not to tease, disturb or make any noise near the birds. This safe haven has been named "Pran O Prakriti" (Life and Nature).

Bamboo poles have been tied together in the water of the Atrai to make enclosures where the seasonal birds can rest. Flocks fly in and land on the water; some float about, some preen, others rest on the bamboo. Both banks ring with their chirping. Thousands of birds of many species roam here, including bali hansh, sarali hansh, cormorants, nightjars, herons and kingfishers. The lovely setting would charm anyone.

Bird lover Kazi Nazmul said the organisation Pran O Prakriti in the upazila has more than a hundred members. "We are trying on our own initiative to build a safe shelter for the birds, and we keep trying despite many difficulties. Every season about 3,000 to 4,000 birds of various species come to the Atrai. At some of the bird sanctuaries, birds take fright and leave when people fish with current nets. After being told many times, these people have become somewhat aware. We are trying to make this upazila a 'safe home' where birds can roam freely."

Sajjad Hossain of Madhuban village said: "We wake very early to the birds' chirping. We don't make any noise so the birds are not frightened. They roam freely not only on the river but also in the village trees."

Mahadebpur upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Mobarak Hossain Parvez said the administration will give the local young bird lovers full support in building the sanctuary and will also make sure no one can hunt birds freely. The upazila has been widely praised for the sanctuary, he said.

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