UNB, Dhaka :
A record number of winter birds flocked Tanguar Haor this winter in one decade as the winged visitors found the overall environment quality at the water body better enjoyable.
A new survey conducted by IUCN Bangladesh has counted 47 species of migratory birds with 52,299 individuals this time against 32,225 last year (2014), while 17,204 in 2013 and 28,876 in 2012.
The IUCN team carried out the waterfowl census in Chattannar Beel, Lechuamara, Hatirghata, Berberia, Rowa, Rupaboi, Ballardubi, and adjacent beels of Tanguar Haor on January 18 last.
The team members included Bangladesh Bird Club founder Enam Ul Haque, bird investigator of IUCN Bangladesh ABM Sarowar Alam Dipu and vice president of Bangladesh Bird Club Majeda Haq.
The survey team recorded 47 species of migratory birds from different beels, including some adjacent grounds of this haor. The highest number of 35,160 birds were seen in Lechuamara Beel, while the lowest 875 at Rupaboi Beel of Tanguar Haor.
According to the census, the number of Eurasian Coot was 17,687 birds, while that of Red-crested Pochard 10,205, Northern Shoveler 3,226 and Eurasian Teal 4,250. Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Purple Swamphen, Ferruginous Duck and Indian Spot-billed Duck were abundantly found during the survey.
The migratory birds species which were seen in smaller numbers, were Great Creasted Grebe, Great Cormorant, Little Cormorant, Black-tailed Godwit, Little Egret, Yellow-billed Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Indian Pond Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Northern Pintail, Falcated Duck, Tufted Duck, Common Moorhen, Phesentail Jacana, Black headed Gull, White Wagtail, Citrine Wagtail, Little Ringed Plover, Eastern Marsh Harrier, White-throated kingfisher and Common Kingfisher.
Two of the very rare bird species-Greater spotted Eagle (1) and Pallas’s fish Eagle (3) — were seen during the census at the hoar.
As the part of Asian Waterfowl Census Programme, Bangladesh Bird Club conducts the survey in Bangladesh, which is carried out in January each year. The IUCN Bangladesh in association with Bangladesh Bird Club conducts the waterfowl census in Tanguar Haor.
IUCN bird investigator Sarowar Alam Dipu said waterfowl census is being conducted in every January since 1989 by the AWC team. On the basis of these data from over the years, the January’13 count was only 17,204 individuals of waterfowl, which was the lowest counting record from Tanguar Haor.
He said, the census team also recorded about 32,218 individuals last year (Jan 14), but this time the team recorded around 52,299 individuals, which is deemed as a positive situation for the waterfowl as well as natural resources of the haor.
Alam said, safe habitats encourage the migratory birds to visit the wetlands of the haor this time as the IUCN Bangladesh improved the environmental quality of the haor through proper management.
He said, local disturbance has been minimised significantly and reed land protected at the Tanguar Haor in the last couple of years so that the ecosystem and biodiversity of the wetland could be improved.
“The aquatic vegetable has increased at the haor this year welcoming more migratory birds,” he said adding that the Tanguar Haor is an example that shows wetland could be protected through proper management.
The waterfowl censuses in Tanguar Haor (1992-2012) shows that nearly 2.75 lakh migratory birds visited the haor in 2004 while 2.4 lakh in 2002, 2.1 lakh in 2003 and 1.9 lakh in 2005. The influx of birds has marked a drastic fall since 2005 while it was only 25,000 in 2007.
The Tanguar Haor is a unique destination for migratory birds, especially ducks. A large number of these birds use the aquatic vegetation for shelter, food and nesting.
At the onset of winter, the Siberian birds spread their wings to take flight of thousands of kilometres all the way from Siberia. The migratory maps show that they start their journey from Siberia, travel through Afghanistan and Central Asia before arriving at the famed bird sanctuaries of Bangladesh and India. These birds travel to a number of wetlands, including Hakaluki and Tanguar hoars.
A record number of winter birds flocked Tanguar Haor this winter in one decade as the winged visitors found the overall environment quality at the water body better enjoyable.
A new survey conducted by IUCN Bangladesh has counted 47 species of migratory birds with 52,299 individuals this time against 32,225 last year (2014), while 17,204 in 2013 and 28,876 in 2012.
The IUCN team carried out the waterfowl census in Chattannar Beel, Lechuamara, Hatirghata, Berberia, Rowa, Rupaboi, Ballardubi, and adjacent beels of Tanguar Haor on January 18 last.
The team members included Bangladesh Bird Club founder Enam Ul Haque, bird investigator of IUCN Bangladesh ABM Sarowar Alam Dipu and vice president of Bangladesh Bird Club Majeda Haq.
The survey team recorded 47 species of migratory birds from different beels, including some adjacent grounds of this haor. The highest number of 35,160 birds were seen in Lechuamara Beel, while the lowest 875 at Rupaboi Beel of Tanguar Haor.
According to the census, the number of Eurasian Coot was 17,687 birds, while that of Red-crested Pochard 10,205, Northern Shoveler 3,226 and Eurasian Teal 4,250. Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Purple Swamphen, Ferruginous Duck and Indian Spot-billed Duck were abundantly found during the survey.
The migratory birds species which were seen in smaller numbers, were Great Creasted Grebe, Great Cormorant, Little Cormorant, Black-tailed Godwit, Little Egret, Yellow-billed Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Indian Pond Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Northern Pintail, Falcated Duck, Tufted Duck, Common Moorhen, Phesentail Jacana, Black headed Gull, White Wagtail, Citrine Wagtail, Little Ringed Plover, Eastern Marsh Harrier, White-throated kingfisher and Common Kingfisher.
Two of the very rare bird species-Greater spotted Eagle (1) and Pallas’s fish Eagle (3) — were seen during the census at the hoar.
As the part of Asian Waterfowl Census Programme, Bangladesh Bird Club conducts the survey in Bangladesh, which is carried out in January each year. The IUCN Bangladesh in association with Bangladesh Bird Club conducts the waterfowl census in Tanguar Haor.
IUCN bird investigator Sarowar Alam Dipu said waterfowl census is being conducted in every January since 1989 by the AWC team. On the basis of these data from over the years, the January’13 count was only 17,204 individuals of waterfowl, which was the lowest counting record from Tanguar Haor.
He said, the census team also recorded about 32,218 individuals last year (Jan 14), but this time the team recorded around 52,299 individuals, which is deemed as a positive situation for the waterfowl as well as natural resources of the haor.
Alam said, safe habitats encourage the migratory birds to visit the wetlands of the haor this time as the IUCN Bangladesh improved the environmental quality of the haor through proper management.
He said, local disturbance has been minimised significantly and reed land protected at the Tanguar Haor in the last couple of years so that the ecosystem and biodiversity of the wetland could be improved.
“The aquatic vegetable has increased at the haor this year welcoming more migratory birds,” he said adding that the Tanguar Haor is an example that shows wetland could be protected through proper management.
The waterfowl censuses in Tanguar Haor (1992-2012) shows that nearly 2.75 lakh migratory birds visited the haor in 2004 while 2.4 lakh in 2002, 2.1 lakh in 2003 and 1.9 lakh in 2005. The influx of birds has marked a drastic fall since 2005 while it was only 25,000 in 2007.
The Tanguar Haor is a unique destination for migratory birds, especially ducks. A large number of these birds use the aquatic vegetation for shelter, food and nesting.
At the onset of winter, the Siberian birds spread their wings to take flight of thousands of kilometres all the way from Siberia. The migratory maps show that they start their journey from Siberia, travel through Afghanistan and Central Asia before arriving at the famed bird sanctuaries of Bangladesh and India. These birds travel to a number of wetlands, including Hakaluki and Tanguar hoars.
