Hakaluki abuzz with migratory birds

Arrival of migratory birds sees a boost in Hakaluki Haor this year, much to the delight of bird watchers and visitors.

"We counted 58,289 birds of 50 species in 40 water bodies of Hakaluki during a survey on February 4 and 5, while 34,264 and 21,631 birds were found in surveys in 2016 and 2015," said Enam Al Haque, also National Coordinator of Waterfowl Census in Bangladesh.

The prominent bird specialist led a team to conduct the survey organised by Bangladesh Birds Club.

USAID's Climate-Resilient Ecosystems and Livelihoods (Crel) project funded the programme.

Hakaluki Haor comprising 18,115 hectares of land is spread over six upazilas in Moulvibazar and Sylhet districts.

Birds in the large water body are increasing as environment-friendly aquatic trees like hijal, koroch, boran, and murta are being planted in Chatalbil and Dohobil areas to create birds' sanctuaries, said Mazharul Islam Jahangir, regional coordinator of Crel project.

Guards have been appointed to protect the plants, he said.

In 1999, the Directorate of Environment declared Hakaluki Haor an ecologically critical area as its natural environment with aquatic trees and plants like hijal and koroch were being destroyed, resulting in serious decline in arrival of migratory birds.