Various species of birds could be seen once in the jungle, trees, fields and backyards of almost every house in the villages of Chuadanga. However, over the course of time now those birds are hardly found. The chirping of birds on the pastoral path of the villages is now on the verge of getting extinct.
The spectacular view of birds in the forest is changing. Now people don’t wake up hearing the chirping of birds. Birds are gradually disappearing from the nature of rural Bengal. Although the native birds live in the jungles and bamboo groves of the village, these birds are changing their habitat due to rapid growth of human habitation.
The people in the rural areas have been cutting down trees for their necessity. As a result, birds are losing their traditional habitat. Even a few years ago, birds used to come in flocks in search of food. The sight of birds perched on the crop field is now a rare scene.
In the past, various birds including heron, dove, swallow, kite, pelican, cuckoo, pigeon, sparrow and crow were seen in large numbers in rural areas. However, at present especially the national bird magpie, dove, sparrow, woodpecker, cuckoo, kingfisher and owl are rarely found. The well-known spring bird that used to intoxicate every person in the village by saying 'Bou Kotha Kou' is no longer seen. The present generation is not familiar with these birds.
Bakhtiyar Hamid, a bird lover from Belgachhi village in Chuadanga Sadar Upazila, said, “Many native species of birds including kingfisher, dove, magpie and green pigeon have already gone missing from the area. Gallinule’s sweet call can no longer be heard late at night. When you wake up in the morning, you can no longer hear the call of the dove. Pigeons are on the verge of extinction due to indiscriminate hunting. Nightingales are not so noticeable now. The number of swallow birds has also decreased.”
He further said that the nest of the lovely swallow in the tall palm or coconut tree is no longer noticeable.
“The number of woodpeckers has also come down drastically. Cuckoo’s sweet voice used to bring the message of the arrival of spring but in the evolution of time; that murmur can no longer be heard. Two or four eagles are sometimes seen in the canals. The falcon, also known as the bird of prey, is on the verge of extinction. The vultures known as the sweepers of nature are no more,” he said.
An old man named Raihan Uddin, a bird lover from Kurulgachhi village of Damurhuda upazila, said, “Even a few years ago, people used to wake up with the sound of birds. The chirping of birds would let people know that the sun has risen; the daily work would start. But now the call of that bird is lost.”
Naran Bhowmik of Andulbaria village in Jibannagar upazila said that even a few days ago, birds of different species including magpie, cuckoo and sparrow used to fascinate people with the sound of their melody in lakes, bushes, tree branches, gardens or courtyards.
“The chirping of these birds is no longer heard. However, a small number of pigeons, herons, crows and kingfishers can be seen in different places of the city and villages, but the national bird magpie is rarely seen,” he added.
Abdul Mannan Piltu of Uthli village in the same upazila said, “The boys and girls of the current generation probably don’t even see these birds with their own eyes. Many of them do not even know the names of these birds. As a result, these birds are becoming stories and history to the young generation. Many children and teenagers of this generation have never seen these famous birds flying in the open sky, nor have they heard the call of these birds. These traditional birds are getting lost day by day without the knowledge of the people.”
Researches have shown that in order to maintain the balance of the environment, a country needs to have 25 percent forest land, whereas the total
forest area in Bangladesh is 17.4 percent. The total area of the country is 1 lakh 47 thousand 570 square kilometers. Of this, 23,998 square km is forest land which is far less than the demand of population. Moreover, people are cutting the existing forest areas indiscriminately. As a result environmental catastrophe and climate change are taking place. There is no rain in the rainy season, even in the spring cold is felt and this climate change is threatening the people as well as the birds. The main habitat of birds is forests and trees. At present, there is no place where people haven’t reached. So the birds are losing their habitat.
The number of insects has also decreased. As the number of insects have decreased, the birds are facing food shortages and their livelihoods are in crisis. Food and habitat are needed for the survival of any animal. Due to the use of pesticides in the land, small fish and insects are dying. As a result, birds are not getting safe food rather they are losing their lives by eating poisonous food. It has become difficult for birds to survive, let alone breeding. Apart from that, the number of birds is decreasing due to lack of water bodies. Rivers, canals and haors are drying up. The birds are no longer able to survive by collecting food from these places.
Shariful Islam, Lecturer of the Department of Biology in Jibannagar Government Women's Degree College, said that birds are being hunted indiscriminately in the forest.
“Deforestation is destroying the balance of the environment. This is reducing the movement of birds. Moreover, as a result of excessive use of pesticides in crops, the places for the movement of birds is decreasing. The birds are becoming extinct. It will be difficult to protect the birds if strict measures are not taken now to protect the environment,” he said.
Dr Md Abdul Majed, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Chuadanga said farmers are being made aware to use less pesticide on lands.
“Protecting birds is important to protect the environment,” he said.
Chuadanga District Livestock Officer Md. Golam Mostafa said that in order to maintain the natural balance and biodiversity, we have to protect the bird species.
“Bird sanctuaries need to be expanded. Excessive use of pesticides on land and hunting of birds should be stopped. Birds protect natural balance. Everyone should pay attention so that the number of birds does not decrease. Livestock Department of Chuadanga is carrying out various activities so that the birds do not become extinct,” he added.
