Hunters active as winter birds arrive

With arrival of early winter migratory birds, a section of bird hunters have become active in different northern districts including Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat, much to the worry of nature lovers and conscious citizens. 

There is hardly any action by law enforcers although illegal catching and sale of the birds are going on openly in different places.

Poachers are selling birds, especially doves, egrets and parrots, at different markets of Lalmonirhat, reports our correspondent.

“Bird hunters, both professional or amateur, have become active, particularly in the wetlands of Teesta and Dharla river basin areas in the district, during the winter season that sees arrival of a large number of migratory birds,” said bird lover Enamul Haque Shamim, 45, a schoolteacher at Gokunda village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.

“Indiscriminate hunting and sale of different species of local and migratory birds is posing a serious threat to wildlife in the area,” said another bird lover Ratiram Sarker, 36, at College Road in Lalmonirhat town.

“A section of local people are engaged in the illegal act for earning extra money while others do it just for fun. The authorities should conduct awareness campaign to check the callous act,” he said.

“Every day I catch six to seven doves by trapping and sell each bird at Tk 300 to Tk 400 to the locals. Like me, many others use bamboo and wood traps for catching doves,” said Khairul Islam, 38, a professional dove hunter at Barabari village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.

Kuddus Miah, 48, an amateur dove hunter at Khedabag village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, said, “Especially during the winter, I hunt doves by setting traps in the jungle areas. I do this to eat dove's meat as it is very tasty.”

Azahar Ali, 47, an egret hunter at Kulaghat village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, said he goes to the local wetland for hunting the birds that move around to take small fishes.

“I can hunt four to six egrets every day and sell each at Tk 500 to Tk 700,” he said.

“We sell egret and other birds openly on the street but we never face any difficulty from law enforcers,” said Sekendar Ali, 35, of the same village. 

Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila Livestock Officer Maqbul Hossain said, “Due to shortage of manpower, we cannot conduct drives against poaching and selling of wild birds. Punitive action will be taken if anybody is found involved in the illegal act.”

Our Nilphamari Correspondent reports: Poachers are applying different methods including use of pet birds, traps with glue and nets to catch birds.

Visiting several remote places early dawn a few days ago, it was found that poachers have set a strange kind of trap made of bamboo and leaves of trees near water bodies, marshy land, crop fields or bushes.

A pet bird like heron or crane is made to sit on the top of the trap, one leg of which is tied with a fine jute thread held by the hunter who remains hiding in a bush-like spot beneath the trap.

Whenever the hunter lightly pulls one end of the thread, the pet bird chirps and stretches wings, coaxing other birds to sit beside and immediately the hunter catches the target.

“It is our traditional way of catching birds. Using this method, we can catch 20 to 25 birds daily,” said Alauddin of Chawra village of Sadar upazila.

Hanifuddin, a bird hunter in Teesta char areas, said, “In winter season, water in the river comes down to knee-deep level at many places and there we use big nets to catch entire flocks of birds.”

“Another popular way of bird hunting is pouring glue on wood planks or big sized hardboards where food is spread. Whenever birds sit for eating food, they get stuck,” he added.

Depending on species and size, a pair of migratory birds is selling for Tk 400 to Tk 1000, said bird hunters.

Bird hunters Mozahid Hossen, Abdul Kazi and Koilash Roy in Char Kharibari village in Teesta area of Dimla upazila, said 400 to 500 people in the district get involved in hunting birds in winter when birds come from Siberia and other cold regions.

Mofizuddin Sheikh, officer in charge of Dimla Police Station, said, “Bird hunting is a punishable offence and if we are informed, we'll take prompt action against the poachers.”