Record number of birds at Tanguar Haor
A record count of winter birds flocked Tanguar Haor in Sunamganj this January, around three times higher than last year, according to a census.
Moreover, one globally endangered species, Baer's Pochard, was spotted at the haor after six years.
In a census conducted by Bangladesh unit of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Bangladesh Bird Club and Bangladesh Forest Department on January 21, some 1,50,000 birds of around 40 species were counted in different beels of Tanguar Haor.
This is the highest number of birds in the last six years.
The census was a part of Asian Waterbird Census under Wildbird Monitoring Programme.
According to IUCN Bangladesh, the count was 59,542 in January last year; while the number of birds was 91,236 in 2017, 42,558 in 2016 and 52,299 in 2015.
ABM Sarowar Alam, senior programme officer of IUCN Bangladesh, said the water depth of the beels of the haor is very low, which has caused better availability of food for the birds.
“The water depth is low this January, and will probably go lower in February. If it gets too low, the winter birds may leave earlier than usual,” he said, adding that they will do another survey next month.
Meanwhile, Sunamganj District Administration has taken several strict initiatives to stop bird poaching in the haor.
Abdul Ahad, deputy commissioner of Sunamganj, said, “We are strict about bird poaching in the haor and remaining vigilant.
The administration is also working on raising awareness among people.”
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