The New Nation - Internet Edition

Owing to its tropical setting for centuries Bangladesh has been a haven for birds of numerous varieties. Even today there are about 207 species of birds which live or visit Bangladesh. Among these 30% are waterfowls, 26% waders, 20% bush and her bland birds and the rest are grassland, air hawking prey. Of the fresh water birds 129 species (62.3 %) are residents while the others are migratory.

Bangladesh witnesses the arrival of millions of migratory birds every winter. Unsurprisingly because of its position and abundance of food the most important identified flyway zone for migratory birds in Bangladesh is the Meghna estuary-areas around the offshore island of Hatiya.

Birds in this country have tremendous economic value, not only as protectors of crops but also as sources of meat, eggs and fibre. Not only this, bird watching at present is a multimillion dollar industry catering to tours, magazines, books and nature-based travel. However, what with continuous poaching, ignorance about the necessity of birds in the ecosystem, growth of human population and the lack of implementation of the Wild Life Preservation Act, these birds themselves are now facing a major threat in various forms of human aggrandizement.

Startling new figures on rate of extinctions reveal that 12% of the bird species will be in peril by 2100. Predictions of increased extinctions over the next century are based on these continuing threats as well as the anticipated habitat loss linked to global warming. Scientists say the decline of both the diversity and abundance of birds portends problems not only for Bangladesh but also for the whole planet.

Photos: Sheikh Hasan

Text & Edited By: Humaira Fatima / DrikNEWS