Various local species of birds in Chaudanga are facing threat of extinction as a result of environmental imbalance and deforestation caused by people.
The forests, bushes and bamboo bits are the natural habitat of these local birds. Due to the rapidly increasing population, these birds are changing their habitat. The people of the villages are clearing out the forests and bushes for their own necessity. The birds are losing their natural habitat because of that.
Even a few years ago, various species of birds could be seen around the forests and country sides. Those birds used to come in a flock in the localities in search of food. Various species of local birds including Crane, Shalik, Dove, Magpie-robin, Baya Weaver (babui), Common Tailor Bird, Yellow Footed Green Pigeon (horiyal), Indian Cormorant (pankouri), Waterhen (dahuk), Cotton Pygmy Goose, Cuckoo, Local Crow could be seen in the villages of Chuadanga before. However, national bird Magpie-robin, along with Dove, Shalik, Sparow, Common tailor Bird, Woodpecker, Cuckoo, Waterhen, Baya Weaver, Kingfisher, Barred Buttonquail (Botor), Teitera, Gomra, Owl and many other species of birds have lessened considerably in number now. Even the much popular Indian Cuckoo (bou kotha kou), which used to sing in spring, can’t be seen anywhere in the villages anymore.
Bird enthusiasts of Berigachi village in Chauadanga upazila Bokhtiar Hamid said Cotton Pygmy Goose, Red-backed kingfisher, Alexandrine Parrot (chondona), Dove, Magpie- robin and many other varieties of birds are already almost extinct in this area. They can’t hear White-breasted waterhen singing at night anymore, neither can they hear Dove’s call at dawn. The hunters have hunted Doves mercilessly and these birds are almost extinct as a result. Bulbuls (bulbuli) cannot be seen much either and the number of Baya Weaver have lessened as well. The nests of Baya Weaver in long trees or poles were a common sight in the past. But these nests can rarely be seen now. Moreover, the call of Brown Fish Owls which was very common in villages at night has become a rare thing too and there are only a handful of woodpeckers. In the past, a lot of Jacobin Cuckoo (chatok) use to roam in the sky in summer. People used to say Jacobin Cuckoo roaming in the sky means rain is coming. But this bringer of rain cannot be seen anymore either. The Cuckoo who are known to be the messenger of spring have become rare with time as well and their sweet singing cannot be heard in spring either. The number of Kite bird (chil) is drastically going down as well and Vultures have become almost extinct. The Hawk, known as the hunter bird, has become rare. The Forest Parrots who used to roam the sky in flocks and lived in colonies in forests cannot be seen anymore either. Naran Bhomuki of Abdulpara village in Jibannagar upazila said various local varieties of birds including magpie Magpie-robin, Shalik, Cuckoo could be seen in trees, forests, fields and canals in villages of Chuadanga. Although some Crows, Parrots, Kingfishers, Doves and Cranes can be seen in villages and suburb areas of Chuadanga, the national bird Magpie-robin cannot be seen anymore.
When the correspondent studied about why the number of birds is decreasing so drastically, he learnt that to keep the natural balance intact, a country needs 25 percent forests of its total area. However, Bangladesh has only 17.4 percent of forests of its total area. The total area of Bangladesh is 1,47,570 square km. Among the total area, there are forests of 23,998 square km in the country which is a lot less then what is needed to maintain the natural balance with such huge population of our country.
Moreover, people are thoughtlessly destroying the forests left in the country. As a result natural disasters, climate change and season change is occurring. There is no rain in rainy season and there is cold in spring season. As a result, not only the birds, but the whole animal kingdom as well is facing the threat of extinction. The main habitats of birds are forests and trees which have lessened considerably as people are building their homes and establishing localities by cutting down the forests. Moreover insects, which are a large source of food for a lot of birds, have lessened in number and the birds are facing a crisis of food because of that. He said that food and habitat are the primary needs of a species for them to survive. They are losing their habitat as people are thoughtlessly cutting down trees. Along with that, the numbers of insects and small fishes have decreased to a great extent because of using insecticides in the crop fields. As a result, not only there’s a crisis of food, they are also losing lives eating the poised insects and fishes. Moreover, the ponds, canals and other water bodies are drying up due to the increasing heat and the fishes in theses water bodies, which is a a great source of food for the birds, are growing fewer and fewer with time. All these have added to the threat of extinction that these local birds in Chuadanga are facing.
Zoology lecturer of Jibannagar Govt Mohila Degree College Mohammad Shariful Islam said because of the gradual deforestation in villages and other areas, the natural balance in being damaged day by day. As a result, the numbers of birds are decreasing too. Moreover, due to the excessive use of insecticides in crop fields, their food source in hampered as well and they are going extinct day by day. If rapid measures are not being taken immediately, these birds are sure to extinct very fast.
Another zoology lecturer of Uthli Primary School Obaidul Haque said the hunters are catching birds by using various traps from the forests and sell them in the market at high price. These birds are fleeing to other areas to save themselves from these hunters. He said the excessive of insecticides in crop fields have to be lessened and deforestations have to be stopped. Otherwise the extinction of these birds is inevitable.
Deputy Director of Chaudanga Department of Agricultural Extension Bivsh Chandra Saha they are creating awareness among the farmers to use less insecticides in their field. It is necessary to save the birds in order to save the nature. Acting officer of Chuadanga District Livestock Department Dr. Md. Mostafizur Rahman said these local varieties of birds need to be saved to maintain the natural balance and the biological diversity. People need to stop excessive insecticides and bird hunting. Moreover, they need to create natural habitat for these birds. These birds help to maintain the natural balance. He said Chaudanga District Livestock Department is taking various measures to stop the extinction of Birds.
