Thousands of birds from around the world migrate and take shelter in the wetlands, coastal chars and islands of Bangladesh. They play vital role in maintaining the balance of our ecosystems and enriching our aquatic biodiversity. These birds also contribute in increasing the fertility of the land. However, they are facing problems of food scarcity and safe habitats due to unbalanced aquatic ecosystem caused by water pollution, use of insecticides etc. So, about half of these birds can’t return to their breeding ground. Many of the birds have now been categorized as endangered in the IUCN Red List. Losing these biodiversity will result in disruption of the natural ecological balance.
To conserve these magnificent birds POJF in association with Bangladesh Bird Club (Bbc), has been conducting the Migratory Waterbird Census twice a year since 2013. Conducted in the coastal areas, chars, islands and hoar basins of Bangladesh, the Coastal Migratory Waterbird Census is an event from which the status of the waterbirds including the migratory species can be assessed.
The census plays a significant role in the conservation of these birds as well as maintaining healthy natural ecosystems. The report, immediately after the census, is sent to the Wetland International (WI), one of the responsible authorities in waterbird conservation globally. As such by conducting the Migratory Waterbird Census, POJF is gradually contributing in maintaining healthy waterbird population, increasing numbers of migratory birds and raising awareness for protection and conservation of the migratory as well as native birds.
