Avian guests bid early farewell
For decades, the Jahangirnagar University campus has been buzzing with the chirping of migratory birds at the beginning of winter every year. As many as 20-25 species of avian guests used to spend the winters on this campus after travelling thousands of miles from Serbia, Russia, Northern Mongolia, Tibet and China.
However, the university is no longer the bird haven it once was. Unplanned development, construction work, noise pollution, high-rises, irresponsible birdwatchers, and a slew of other adversities have managed to clear the university grounds of birds even before the end of winter this year.
Campus sources said thousands of ill-mannered visitors come to watch the birds every day, and often throw rocks at the birds.
Then there's the case of all the noise made by cars and battery-run rickshaws that ply around the campus which makes the birds feel even more unsafe.
Prof Adil Muhammad Khan of the university's urban and regional planning department said, "A bird flies in search of greenery. Year after year, the green environment has drawn birds to our campus in the winter. But now, because of the multi-storied buildings, when the bird wants to come down from above, it will see brick-concrete rather than green. That explains why they left earlier."
According to Prof Jamal Uddin of the Department of Environmental Science, "Birds cannot move easily now. Besides, people throw used masks, polythene, and plastic waste into the lake, destroying the natural habitat of aquatic animals and migratory birds."
Prof Md Kamrul Hasan of the zoology department said, "The two major lakes of the university -- Transport Yard Lake and Joy Para Lake -- are the main junctions for the migratory birds. It's mainly the ill-mannered visitors, whose disturbance has driven away the birds," he said.
" Around 7,500 migratory birds came to the campus in 2020. In 2021, the number declined to 4,500 and in 2022, it came down to 3,000. This is a worrying trend," he added.
BIRD FAIR HELD
A daylong bird fair was held on the JU campus yesterday, aiming to create mass awareness about wildlife conservation and the preservation of birds.
The university's zoology department, in association with WildLife Rescue Centre, Bangladesh Bird Club, Aronnyok Foundation, Prokriti O Jibon Foundation and Bangladesh Zoological Society and International Union for Conservation of Nature organised the fair.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Nurul Alam inaugurated the programme in the morning on the Zahir Raihan auditorium premises.
The fair hosted an inaugural session, a bird identification competition by audio and video clips, an environmental debate, a bird painting competition for children, an award ceremony, and other activities.
Besides, a total of seven bird conservationists were awarded under three categories -- Big Bird Bangladesh Award, Conservation Media Award and Scientific Publication Award.
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