Tanguar Haor Bird Count Underway
Photo Collected
A recent bird census at Bangladesh’s Tanguar Haor, a crucial wintering ground for migratory birds, revealed a stark decline in numbers, particularly among resident species, raising alarms about habitat degradation. The annual survey, conducted on February 6, found significantly fewer birds than in previous years, a trend attributed to shrinking food sources and the destruction of nesting sites.
During the expedition, the usually vibrant Lechhuamara Bill appeared yellowish as the aquatic vegetation reached the end of its life cycle. While this setting offered camouflage for resident species like the common teal, which breeds in the area, their numbers have plummeted from thousands to a mere 10-20 spotted during the winter count. A decade ago, up to three thousand of these ducks were observed; now, the scarcity is blamed on the loss of suitable nesting grounds. Overgrazing by cattle has decimated the grass, leaving little space for birds to build nests.
বিজ্ঞাপন
For over two decades, Lechhuamara Bill has been considered a sanctuary, typically hosting over a hundred thousand migratory ducks. This year, however, the bill was conspicuously empty of birds. A mere 200 individuals were spotted on the adjoining Hātīr Gāthā Bill, marking the first time a Tanguar Haor census yielded such disappointing results for the observer. Tanguar Haor is known to attract half of the migratory water birds visiting the country, making this year’s sparse showing particularly concerning.
Further exploration to the adjacent bills of Hātīr Gāthā, Ballārdubi, and Bēr Bēriā yielded only a few pairs of migratory ducks, primarily ferruginous pochards and garganeys. The prolonged search, extending into late morning, offered little respite from the growing concern over the diminished bird population.
বিজ্ঞাপন
At Ballārdubi Bill, a critical feeding area, the presence of hundreds of black-winged stilts and purple swamphens was noted amidst the grass. However, the sighting was marred by the discovery of local fishermen illegally using ‘chinaduarī’ nets, a practice that has depleted fish populations in the haor within just five years and is now threatening the broader aquatic ecosystem.
A ray of hope emerged at Rupa Bhui Bill, where a large flock of several thousand ducks was observed resting. These birds typically forage at night. The bill also hosted two fulvous whistling ducks, and a flock of grey-headed swamphens flew overhead. The reduced water levels had created a congregation of hundreds of black cormorants and white egrets, painting the bill in stark black and white, offering a spectacular visual despite the underlying environmental concerns.
The census extended to Chataiṇṇyā Bill around noon, revealing a bustling ecosystem. Approximately three thousand grey-headed swamphens and a large group of ten thousand ducks, comprising about eight different species, were present. Northern shovelers were the most abundant, with a flock of 1,700 individuals. The sighting of several pairs of blue-winged teals and a dozen common teals was particularly heartening, prompting the observer to spend two hours in the area.
Overall, the Tanguar Haor census identified 47 species and 29,000 birds, including 36 migratory species. The ferruginous pochard was the most numerous, with an estimated 6,000 individuals counted.
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