Birds are part of nature that makes life worth living and cheerful. They also contribute to maintaining environmental and ecological balance. With the onset of the winter season scores of birds come to Bangladesh from the Siberian region every year to escape the severe weather prevailing there. This phenomenon has been witnessed for the last few decades. These winged guests take shelter in different places of our country, particularly in the places dominated by rivers, lakes and swamps.

According to a report of this newspaper aiming to raise awareness among mass people to conserve birds in the environment, a daylong Bird Fair-2018 was held at Jahangirnagar University (JU) recently. JU Zoology department in association with Wild Life Rescue Centre (WLRC), Bangladesh Bird Club, Aronnyok Foundation, Prokriti O Jibon Foundation and Bangladesh Forest Department organised the fair on the campus for the 17th time in a row. The day-long fair was featured with inter-university bird identification competition, photography exhibition on birds, drawing competition for children, bird watching competition through telescope, quiz competition, annual report presentation on bird U and award giving ceremony.

Bird population is declining worldwide, with 1,200 species facing extinction in the next century. The biggest reason is habitat loss. Other threats include overhunting, accidental mortality due to structural collisions, pollution, competition and predation by pet cats, oil spills and pesticide use and climate change. The most critical threat facing threatened birds is the destruction and fragmentation of habitat. The loss of forests, plains and other natural systems into agriculture, mines, and urban developments, the draining of swamps and other wetlands and logging reduce potential habitat for many species.

In Bangladesh, what is worrying to note that they are sometimes exposed to hostile circumstances created by a section of unscrupulous people. These people even go to the extent of poaching and killing the guest birds for their personal gains.  Scientists and conservation professionals have developed a number of techniques to protect bird species. These techniques have had varying levels of success.

 It is the responsibility of the relevant authorities to ensure a congenial atmosphere for the sojourn of the guest birds. A few setbacks confronting the happy stay of the migratory birds should be addressed properly. Cruelty against birds in different places of the country should be stopped immediately. The unscrupulous people responsible for poaching guest birds should be brought to justice.  Members of the law enforcing agencies, environmentalists and conscious people should be vigilant about it.