KHANDAKER ZANNATUN NAHAR JERRY : Bangladesh is a country of six seasons. This country has a temperate climate. Line of cancer has passed over this country. Other guest birds in our country during winter mean the birds that migrate from one place to another during a certain season. They are also known as migratory birds. There are about 5 lakh species of birds in this world. Many species of these birds migrate at certain times of the year. There are about 600 species of birds in Europe and Asia alone. Some birds therefore travel 22,000 miles every year to distant lands. A sea conch of North Pole region crosses this distance every year to migrate south. Migratory birds come to the temperate climate country of Bangladesh after long journey to escape the cold of the ice winter regions and to enjoy the relatively warm weather. Migratory birds arrive in winter and as soon as the winter ends, the birds fly back to their previous habitats. These birds are known as guest birds as they come here for a short stay.

The countries where the birds come from have severe winters. As a result, they cannot tolerate it. And that’s why he moved to another country. In that case they move to less cold countries. Moreover, during this time there is a severe shortage of food in the winter areas. Because most of the time the temperature is below zero in winter areas. There is also snowfall. So no plants can grow. Generally, when winter comes, the birds’ flocks of the North Pole, Siberia, Europe, some regions of Asia, some regions around the Himalayas fly to less cold regions.Spring time means around March- April the snow in the winter region starts to melt, some plants start to grow. Just at such a time the guest birds return to their home.However, these guest birds travel not only to Bangladesh, but all over the world every year. As the saying goes, birds have no boundaries in the sky. They fly effortlessly from one region to another, from one country to another.

The Jahangirnagar University campus, one of the country’s top educational institutes, is buzzing with the chirping and buzzing of seasonal guest birds every year. Around 20-25 species of birds visit the various lakes here including the lake adjacent to the administrative building.

Apart from JU Campus, Mirpur Zoo Lake, Durgasagar in Barisal, Nil Sagar in Nilphamari, Hura in Sirajganj, and Tanguar Haor in Sunamganj are favorite vacation spots for visiting birds.

The reservoirs of Bangladesh are their favorite place and safe haven. For several years, wintering birds have also settled in Nijhum Island Dublar –char Kutubdia areas.

Among the birds that come to this country in winter season are – Sonajang, Khurule, Kunchushi, Bataran, Shabaz, Jalpipi, Lanza, Harial, Durga, Tuntuni, Rajaskun, Lalbon Rooster, Tile Myna, Ramghughu, Jungle Bater, Gray Bater, Yellow Khanchana, Kulau etc.Among the birds that come to Bangladesh in winter season are – Sonajang, Khurule, Kunchushi, Bataran, Shabaz, Jalpipi, Lanza, Harial, Durga, Tuntuni, Rajasokun, Lalbon Rooster, Tile Myna, Ramghughu, Jungle Bane, Gray Bane, Yellow Khanchna, Kulau etc. Also birds of different color and vocal variety include Gray and Pink Swan, Sand Duck, Lenja, Chiti, Sarali, Patihas, Butihas, Baikal, Nileshir Piang, China, Pantamuri, Rangamuri, Black Swan, Swan, Peribhuti, Chakhachokhi, Giriya, Khanjana, Patari, Jalpipi, Pani Murgi, North Giriya, Patibatan, Kamanchil, Cottonchil etc.

Foreign Accentor

It is confused with Forest Pipit, Warbler, Warbler. The accentor is one of those birds that only ornithologists know about, even though it is common in the wild. Predators come feathered together with goldfinches and buntings.sThe bird looks incongruous. The plumage is brownish-grey. Size is small. Accentor’s body weight does not exceed 25 grams. Many people confuse a bird with a sparrow. Accentors belong to the order of passerines.Accentors eat insects. This prompts the bird to fly south. However, the bird keeps until it gets too cold and returns in early spring. Accentor’s tolerance for cold weather is strengthened by the ability to switch from a protein diet to a vegetable one. Birds may eat berries and seeds instead of insects. Therefore, in regions with a temperate climate, accents do not fly at all. Birds flock to the south from the northern part of the country.

Reed Bunting

A sparrow-sized bird of reedbeds, wetlands and farmland, the reed bunting feeds on seeds and invertebrates. In the winter, reed buntings join mixed flocks of buntings, finches and sparrows to feed on seeds on farmland. During the breeding season, males can be spotted perched high on reeds, rushes or scrub, voicing their simple, three-note territorial call. Females breed low in the dense vegetation, constructing their nests from grass, reeds and moss. If a predator comes close, it may be drawn away by one of the adults acting as if injured.

Swallow bird

The swallows, martins, and saw-wings, or Hirundinidae, are a family of passerine songbirds found around the world on all continents, including occasionally in Antarctica. Highly adapted to aerial feeding, they have a distinctive appearance. The term “swallow” is used colloquially in Europe as a synonym for the barn swallow. Around 90 species of Hirundinidae are known,[1] divided into 19 genera, with the greatest diversity found in Africa, which is also thought to be where they evolved as hole-nesters. They also occur on a number of oceanic islands. A number of European and North American species are long-distance migrants; by contrast, the West and South African swallows are no migratory.  .

Grey heron

The grey heron (Ardea cinerea) is a long-legged wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but some populations from the more northern parts migrate southwards in autumn. A bird of wetland areas, it can be seen around lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes and on the sea coast. It feeds mostly on aquatic creatures which it catches after standing stationary beside or in the water or stalking its prey through the shallows.

Standing up to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) tall, adults weigh from 1 to 2 kg (2 to 4 lb). They have a white head and neck with a broad black stripe that extends from the eye to the black crest. The body and wings are grey above and the underparts are greyish-white, with some black on the flanks. The long, sharply pointed beak is pinkish-yellow and the legs are brown.

According to government estimates, there are 12 sanctuaries for guest birds. But what actually means sanctuary is still not fully developed. According to section 26 of the Bangladesh Wildlife Act, 1974, hunting and killing of birds is a punishable offence.Meanwhile, in the case of rearing pet birds, setting up farms, buying and selling and importing and exporting, a license should be taken. Failure to obtain a license shall be punishable with a maximum imprisonment of one year or a maximum fine of Tk 50,000 or both.

The government has finalized the ‘Pet Bird Management Rules-2020’ by keeping such punishment. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued the rules on January 13.

According to the Pet Bird Management Rules, no farmer can produce, rear, farm, buy, sell or import-export pet birds or any pet shop (shop selling pet birds) can buy and sell pet birds without a license. .

Those who raise pet birds at home or in an institution as a hobby, the number of birds is not more than 10, are called amateur pet bird breeders in the policy.

Before the coming into force of the rules, any person engaged in rearing pet birds, setting up a farm or conducting import-export or pet shop should obtain a license within 60 days of the coming into force of these rules.

As mentioned in the rules, the license will be valid for one year in each case. License has to be renewed after one year. License will be issued by the Chief Warden (Chief Conservator of Forests) or any other officer authorized by him.

Above all, we all have the responsibility to protect the guest birds for the sake of preserving the natural balance and biodiversity. Let’s stop hunting guest birds. We all contribute in a small way to maintain the ecosystem of the environment.

The writer is a sub editor and freelance journalist