Drawing lots of tourists from home and abroad, the Pochamaria Sanctuary, some 45km off Rajshahi city, with its natural habitat and conservation of birds by villagers has now come to the forefront for promotion of bird tourism.

Tourists like Japanese Takuma Kurataki, Dubai Zoo Curator Dr Ali Reza Khan, and renowned ornithologist Inam Al Haq described the sanctuary in the visitors' book as "impressive" and "a paradise for both birds and wildlife enthusiasts".

Although none could tell how many birds live at the sanctuary, locals said festivity begins in winter when countless migratory birds attract more visitors.

They said they heard bird experts saying that there are some six rare species at the sanctuary where around 10,000 birds usually live.

Many birds can be easily identified. There are white and painted stork, large egret, Asian openbill, bittern, moyna, drongo, large cormorant, darter, lesser whistling teal, even bats, owls and crows and many other unknown birds.

"The chirping of the birds soothes the mind and the flurry of creatures swooping low past overhead adds some adventure to our rural life," said schoolteacher Mozammel Haque.

THE HABITAT
The birds generally live in bamboo groves and dense large trees in about one square kilometre areas in the village. Only the crows live on separate trees.

Apart from two big ponds inside the orchards, there are many wetlands around the village where the birds hunt for fish.

The villagers of Pochamaria started conserving the huge flocks of birds 10 years ago when an influential man, who along with his friends used to poach the birds, left the village.

Shilmaria Union Parishad Chairman Sajjad Hossain Mukul honoured the villagers' love for the birds and declared the village a bird sanctuary. He announced a fine of Tk 500 for causing harms to the birds.

Mukul, who was honoured at the Bird Fair at Jahangirnagar University in February, said, they have many plans but limited ability. "We need modern methods to save the birds first. Then we need the infrastructure for the tourists."

Problems the Pochamaria villagers are grappling with include poachers from outside. The villagers said many birds also died during recent storms.

A security committee headed by Mukul regularly keeps vigil against poachers. The committee has 31 executives and 101 general members.

The residents of Pochamaria have been tolerant even when the birds cause damage to the bamboo groves, trees and fruits. They do not even fell down trees.

"The birds often make the life unbearable: they take our food, poultry chicks, but we do not hurt them. They are our assets," said Zinnatun Ferdousi, a teacher of Pochamaria Girls' School.

The worst sufferers are 12 of the 500 families of the village who live inside the bamboo groves. Besides the bad odour, their houses have turned white due to the droppings of birds.

Akkas Ali, a rickshaw-van puller, and his wife Jyotsna Begum said they bear the suffering thinking of a bright future. "We believe someday our village will be known worldwide for these birds," Jyotsna said.