Nourin Ahmed Monisha
The chirping and fluttering of birds all around the lakes of Jahangirnagar University (JU) compels hundreds of thousands of tourists every year to visit the sprawling campus of JU located on the outskirts of the capital. Every year the evergreen campus echoes with the sounds of thousands of man’s feathered friends who come to take shelter or to spend ‘winter holidays’ at JU campus.
Though the number of migratory birds in the Bangladesh has dramatically decreased due to climate change and other natural phenomenon, apparently, the scene on the JU campus is really different. The lakes in front of the administrative building and beside the Jahanara Imam Hall are main points for bird gatherings and bird watching.
Most of the migratory birds come from the Northern parts of the globe. Millions of birds especially from Siberia travel south during winter in search of food and shelter. They fly hundreds of miles across the globe using a specific migration path called, ‘the flyways” to reach Bangladesh. Around 15 species of migratory birds come to JU every year. Boro Sorali which is known as greater whistling ducks and Chhoto Sorali which is known as the lesser whistling ducks are found more in JU lakes than other species.
The Government of Bangladesh have prohibited the killing of guest birds. Earlier many unscrupulous people used to kill these birds and sell them for their own benefit. However, the Government now incorporates necessary obligations to the perpetrators to account.
