The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

A record number of waterfowl species has converged in haors and coastal areas of the country this year.

Some 1,33,702 water-birds of 66 species have arrived at 23 sites of four Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs) of the country this year, while last winter a total number of 51,528 waterfowls of 41 species were counted, according to a survey that was disclosed yesterday at a press conference at the National Press Club.

The survey shows experts found 41 species of waterbirds in Hakaluki Haor this year, while 45 species in the three coastal ECAs namely, Cox's Bazar-Teknaf coast, St Martin's Island and Sonadia Island on the Bay of Bengal.

The survey was conducted recently under the project of Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management at Cox's Bazar and Hakaluki (CWBMP) taken up by the Department of Environment. Thirteen members of the Bird Club conducted the survey led by eminent bird-watcher of the country Enam Al Haque.

AHM Rezaul Kabir, Secretary of Environment and Forest Ministry, Dr Khandokar Rashedul Haque, Director General of Environment Department, eminent environmentalist Dr Ayenun Nishat and Abdus Samad, Director of the project were present at the press conference, while Enam Al Haque revealed the results of the survey.

Secretary of Environment and Forest Ministry said, "We should now declare more areas as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) to keep the biodiversity of the environment and to face climate change."

AHM Rezaul Kabir said, "We should not declare the whole of Cox's Bazar-Teknaf coast as a tourist area."

Director of Environment Department demanded building of an Eco-Tourism System centring waterbirds.

The survey shows that there was a significant difference in the composition of species at Hakaluki Haor and three coastal ECAs. 22 species spotted in Hakaluki did not exist in the coastal ECAs and 25 species found in the coastal ECAs did not exist at the Haors. Only 19 species of waterfowls are found both in Hakaluki and the coastal ECAs.

Hakaluki Haor was the ECA with the largest population of 1,26,851 birds. Ducks are the most common waterfowls of the ECA with Northern Pintail-whose population was 80,214 as the most numerous bird and Gadwall as the second most numerous bird (16,169). A species of globally threatened waterfowl namely Baer's Pochard and another species of near-threatened waterbird namely Ferruginous Pochard were spotted in Hakaluki Haor this year.

The population of waterfowls at Hakaluki Hoar found by the survey was very much larger than that of previous years. Last winter a total number of 51,528 waterfowls were counted in the four ECAs of the country. Between the two winter surveys the populations of Ruddy Shelduck, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, Garganey, Ferruginous Pochard and Common Coot increased a good deal, whereas the population of the Lesser Whistling Duck and Fulvour Whistling Duck reduced significantly.

The speakers asked the authorities to take proper steps to create awareness among all to maintain biodiversity in the coastal and wetland of the country.

They said another mid-winter waterfowl census should be conducted and at least two beels of Hakaluki Haor should be designated as Important Bird Areas (IBAs).

They also said a monthly waterfowl census should be conducted at the important bird areas.