Feature

Migratory birds at JU Lake

Mashrequl Islam Rahat

THE guest birds are here on Jahangirnagar University campus. Now the JU Campus is being frequented by migratory birds swimming in the lakes and flying in the open sky. This year they came 4 to 5 weeks earlier than usual.

''The arrival and departure of migratory birds are linked to the weather. Normally guest birds come to JU lakes during winter. But heavy rainfall in the late monsoon has delayed the arrival of migratory birds last few years," said a bird specialist.

Students of the University spend their leisure hours beside the lakes watching the birds.

Bird lovers including many foreigners come from Dhaka to watch these birds.

"I loved watching the birds. I think Jahangirnagar University is a campus of natural beauty full of woods and lakes. The migratory birds add to its beauty, "said Michsel Royanth, a bird watcher.

The lake in front of the administrative building of the University and the lakes beside Jahanara and Pritilota hall are the two

places for the movement of the birds on the campus.

Most of the migratory birds come from remote cold countries like Mongolia, Nepal, and Siberia etc. Normally they stay in several lakes from November till March to escape the harsh cold in the Siberian region.

So far 10 species of migratory birds have been identified in JU lakes.

Although around 20 species of guest birds including Pintail, Coton Chil, Sarali,Dendroygna Javanica,Common Chil,Gangony and spotted Billed ducks come to spend the winter season on the campus.

"Around ten thousand migratory birds usually land on the JU water bodies every year," said Prof. Firoz, of Zoology Department.

On the occasion, university authorities arranged a bird fair on the campus to raise awareness about the birds as well as offering additional attractions to the visitors.

Normally this fair is held on the second week of February.

(Department of International Relations, Jahangirnagar University)