Wild birds in artificial nests hatch eggs

Several cotton pygmy geese, locally known as bali hans, and jungle mynahs have laid eggs in the artificial nests set in Baikka Beel of Srimongal upazila under Moulvibazar district, thanks to the initiative of Integrated Protected Area Co-management (IPAC), Bangladesh.

Eggs of wild mynah have hatched in the nests that IPAC installed in an attempt to increase breeding of different species of birds in Baikka Beel.

The Hail Haor (water body) comprising Baikka Beel in Srimongal upazila was once rich in fish and aquatic plants but unabated fishing, felling of trees and aquatic weeds caused massive damage to its biodiversity, said IPAC sources.

With a view to reviving the traditional natural resources of the haor, IPAC started its work there with the financial assistance of USAID a few years ago.

Hail Haor, one of the most important marshlands of the country, has already made its place in the international list of important bird population areas.

Earlier in 2005, the IPAC installed 12 artificial nests on experimental basis at different places of Baikka Beel but no birds laid any eggs there that time. In 2007 the geese laid eggs in four nests.

In April this year, the local 'co-management committee', an affiliated body of the IPAC, installed 21 waterproof artificial nests at Hijal and Karach jungles of Baikka Beel. These special nests were manufactured with the technical advice of Paul Thomson, an international expert on birds.

An observation team led by Moloy Sarkar, IPAC director in charge of Sylhet region, completed the first phase of their survey of artificial nests at Baikka Beel on July 10 this year. During the survey, they saw that birds made their shelter in 14 artificial nests. They found 26 eggs in a nest and 15 eggs in another nest. The birds also started laying eggs in a few other nests. Young ones of wild mynah also hatched out from eggs in a nest.

"We have taken an initiative on experimental basis to install artificial nests to save native birds that have seen decrease in recent years. According to our preliminary observation, the result is positive. We are hopeful of success if eggs remain safe and young ones hatched out from them can grow without any disturbance," Moloy Sarkar said.

"Now only a few native birds reside here permanently. To save the artificially installed nests from the bird hunters, these are being kept under strict vigilance," said Ador Miah, a guard employed by the co-management committee in Baikka Beel.

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