The rural people are now going to forget the habit of their awakening from the bed early in the morning by hearing the sounds of chirping of birds and returning home in the evening with the twittering sounds of birds of various species vibrating the air. Irrespective of all seasons, even in torrential rain and in cool winter, rural people were habituated in awakening at the dawn and entering into the house during days break by hearing sweet calls of varieties of birds like doel (magpie-robin), Cuckoo, Shama (white ramped shama), finge( Black drongo), dove, sparrow, parrot, myna and hundreds of other birds of different varieties. Now many of these indigenous birds are on verge of extinction. Due to the cutting of trees and the absence of tree- varieties, indiscriminate hunting and] loss of habitat, those varieties of birds are declining fast from the Rajshahi region and other parts of the country.
Aiming at preserving those indigenous varieties of birds, Khodeza Begum, Vice-Chairman of Bagatipara Upazila under Natore district has taken up steps to hang earthen pitchers on branches of trees to ease the indigenous birds to make nests inside those pitchers.
She aimed to create a sanctuary of birds in her own village at first and then to tie those pitchers on branches of large trees in other villages under her upazila.
Khodeza Begum informed, she loves birds from her childhood. She took the initiative to save the indigenous birds from being extinct after being elected Vice President of the upazila. In addition to assist common people, she was contemplating on saving birds, thinking of their foods, nests and safe breeding.
In Mishripara village under Dayarampur union, Khodeza has tied hundreds of mud built pitchers at a high position beside every road, street corners, beside the pond and cultivable land, behind the cornices of houses and on branches of large trees.
Already indigenous birds are seen to visit those pitchers and making nests inside those pitchers. Khodeza said she has been working to save the traditional indigenous birds of the country through creating safe habitats and a favourable environment to breed and increase of population of those. She further mentioned, her effort would make the rural people once again happy by hearing sweet chirping and melodious twittering of those indigenous birds.
She mentioned, birds are assets of our nature. If we could not ensure free-roaming and flying of birds in nature, those will be extinct within a short span of time that is why she was trying to build a sanctuary of birds.
She sought cooperation from all so that her effort was successful for the sake of our nature and for our future generations.
