The migratory birds, popularly known as “avian guests of winter”, have started coming from different countries to the down-stream areas in Khaliajury upazila of the district for the last few days.According to local bird lovers and weather experts, the migratory birds in flocks of hundreds or thousands arrive at various parts across the country during the winter every year. The birds come from countries like Siberia, Mongolia, China and Nepal to escape the intolerable icy- weather condition.Different dry places around the haors, marshlands and swamp areas including Roail haor, Gona haor, Kitton haor, Bowali haor, Bora beel, and Pangashia haor of Khaliajury upazila are being resounded with the chirping of the migratory birds. These areas have virtually turned into the” heavenly abodes” of the guest birds.The guest birds, which are familiar to local people, as Dighai, Sarails, Balihas, Khaligory and Pankouri were seen glittering or hovering like small air-crafts in the blue sky over the water-bodies, some were wading across the banks of the open water bodies and eating small fishes and many of them were seen chattering or sauntering on the shoals.Talking to BSS, Chairman of Chakua union parishad Rahmat Ali and chairman of Mendipur union parishad under the upazila Lukman Hakim said, the number of guest birds has marked a fall in the down-stream areas than the previous year due to scarcity of small fishes in the natural water bodies and catching of these birds by professional bird hunters.
The guest- birds are being caught and sold every day by the professional bird-hunters secretly, they added.Meanwhile, they held a series of views-exchange meetings with local people including farmers to create mass awareness among the villagers for stop hunting the birds.Officer-in-charge of Khaliajury Police Station Abul Kalam Azad said that the necessary instructions have already been issued to the police forces to keep strong vigil to stop bird-hunting or selling of the migratory birds.Local bird-lovers drew the attention of the local administration for taking necessary steps to ensure safe stay of these guest birds in their temporary winter home in the down-stream areas.BSS, Netrakona
