We have no guest birds

The whistling teal

A huge number of birds that we see around the lakes and ponds, as well as large wetlands are basically two species of Whistling Teals that are locally called Bora and Chhota Shorali. Small populations of these teals are still breeding in Bangladesh during pre-monsoon and monsoon period. About half a century back there were many populations of the Chhota Shorali -- the Lesser Whistling Teal -- in majority of the beels and haors of the country. Bora Shorali -- the Large Whistling Teal -- used to live in the larger wetlands bordering forested areas like the haors in greater Mymensingh and Sylhet districts as well as in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

As none of these forests and the countryside village groves or homestead `gardens support large, very old, decaying or dying trees these Shorali are finding it difficult to build nest on such trees. So, the resident population declined. But in addition to the resident birds we used to get migratory populations of these teals during the winter. Not more than 90 per cent of the two teals are migratory to the country. They are known to migrate from the neighbouring hill countries of India and Myanmar, where they breed.

In the scientific world Migration means an animal population or members of an entire species must move to the direction of a country and a place, spend their short or \long time and must go back to the place from where they had started the journey at the first place. This yearly movement is migration. As per the prevailing idea the migratory birds we have in Bangladesh, some 300 out of a little less than 700 species of birds we have in the country, have actually originated in different parts of Asia and started opportunistically using the northern countries in the Himalayan foothills and upper regions, Central Asia and East Russian Siberia. So, these migratory species are 100 per cent our birds and part and parcel of our avifauna.

In addition to the Whistling Teals our main migrants during the winter includes Garganey (Nilpakha Jiria Hansh), Common Teal (Jiria Hansh), Mallard (Nilshir), Pochards (Bhunti Hansh), Pintail (Lenja), Ruddy Shelduck (Chokha-chokhi), Common Shelduck (Sha- Chokha), Geese (Raj Hansh) and a few other ducks as well; as waterfowls like the Moorhen (Kalim, Jolo Kukkut), etc.. There are large number of smaller water loving waders such as Snipes(Kadakhucha), Sandpipers (Chapakhi), Plovers (Batan or Jiria, Ti-ti, etc), Curlew (Boro Gulinda), Whimbrel (Chhoto Gulinda), Stints (Baman Chapakhi), Ruff (Jowala or Jiwali), Godwits (Jowrali), Shanks (Dhenga), and Oystercatcher (Shuktibhuji Batan). Also there are certain Herons and Egrets (Bok), Ibis (Kasteychora), Stork (Manikjoor) and Spoonbill (Khuntey Bok) that are found in the wetlands during the winter. These are the birds most people recognise as the "Otithi Pakhi" or guest birds. But these are nothing but migratory birds found not only in Bangladesh but also in many Asian, European and African countries.

However, large numbers of migratory birds that pass through our country during winter are smaller, song or perching birds that pass unnoticed because they are small in size, are not very showy nor do they form large colonies that can attract the attention of the average members of the public. In this group we have Warblers, Leaf Warblers, Babblers and Flycatchers which are basically drab coloured, and move singly or in small flocks passing through our gardens picking up insects and other small creatures that are harmful to our crops and ornamental plants. Wagtails or Khonjoni, Pipit (Math Chorai) and Larks (Bhorot Pakhi) pass through or near the watercourses both at the coastal and freshwater areas of the country. We also get a few species of Ababils (swallows, swifts and martins), Koshai Pakhi (Shrikes), Eagles, Kites, Harriers, Falcons, Vultures and owls- both diurnal and nocturnal migrants( Egol, Chil, Baaz, Rakhal Bhulani, Shakoon and Pencha). Several species of Cuckoos (Kokil, Papiyah, Chatok) and Pitta or Shumcha as summer migrants that breed in our country.

For thousands of years these migratory birds are utilising our country and territory of the neighbouring countries without entering in to conflict with people. The reason: Each migratory bird produces a certain amount of excreta or stool everyday. This is a natural process of conversion of plant and animal matter into bio-absorbable organic material called 'faces, excreta or stools'. These bird droppings enrich our environment and provide nourishment to the plants and animals of the beels, baors, and haors, coastal and estuarine areas as well as fallow and forested lands.

Many migratory species feed entirely on insects and other small animals that are harmful to crops, gardens and orchards. Some eat terrible vermin like the rats and mice that destroy our field and stored crops and grains.

I appeal to the members of the public not to call the migratory birds as Guest Birds, as their status is compromised that encourages influential ministers to advice people to cull these so called "Otithi Pakhi". They should actually be called Migratory Birds or Winter, Summer Migrants or Passage Migrants (that pass through the country during Autumn and Spring on way to some southern and northern destinations).

Dr Reza Khan is a nature lover.