Every winter, Bangladesh undergoes a gentle transformation. With the early morning mist, across the wetlands descend thousands of migratory birds-silent travelers from Siberia, Mongolia, the Tibetan Plateau, and northern China. They journey thousands of kilometers in search of open water, safety, and food. Their arrival in the beels and haors is more than a seasonal charm; it is a sign of the nation's ecological health. Yet, year after year, their tranquil passage turns into a dangerous struggle for survival. The greatest threat to these birds comes from none other than humans.
Data from the Forest Department, global conservation agencies, and ornithologists show a steep and alarming decline in migratory bird populations. Wetlands International reports a nearly 40 percent decrease in South Asia over the past two decades. BirdLife International warns that almost 90 percent of the world's migratory birds now face human-induced threats. Climate change, shrinking wetlands, poisoning, illegal hunting, trafficking, and poor enforcement of conservation laws have pushed these birds to the brink-they are no longer just seasonal visitors, but urgent messengers of environmental distress.
Once, Chalan Beel, Hakaluki Haor, the Teknaf coastline, the Sundarbans, and the char regions were safe havens for migratory birds. Winter mornings echoed with the rhythmic flutter of wings. Today, those skies are quieter.
Traps, poison, and snares are laid not for survival but for profit. Wild birds-whose hunting is strictly prohibited-end up secretly sold in local markets and even in some urban restaurants. The Wildlife Conservation and Security Act 2012 could have been a shield, but enforcement remains sporadic. Hunters operate in networks that are often stronger than the monitoring systems meant to stop them.
Wildlife expert Dr. Enam Ul Haque captures the truth sharply: "Protecting migratory birds means protecting the moral character of the nation." Migratory birds are not mere ornaments of winter; they are essential cogs in the natural system. According to an FAO study, a single migratory duck consumes nearly 200,000 insects each season, playing a powerful role in safeguarding crops. To kill a bird that protects agriculture is to poison one's own land. Yet this wisdom fades as profit and indifference rise.
Climate change is reshaping the natural flyways that migratory birds have followed for centuries. Research under the Arctic Migratory Bird Initiative shows that delayed winters and early summers in northern latitudes disrupt breeding and feeding cycles. Meanwhile, South Asia has lost nearly 35 percent of its wetlands since the 1970s. When wetlands vanish, the birds vanish. When birds vanish, entire ecosystems weaken. The decline of migratory birds is not only a biodiversity issue-it is a warning for future generations.
Human pressure on Bangladesh's wetlands accelerates the crisis. Sand filling, unplanned fish enclosures, chemical waste, rapid urbanization, and loud boat engines degrade the wetlands that once nurtured flocks of birds. Local farmers say, "We used to wake up to the calls of birds. Now, even in peak winter, we barely see any."This silence is not nature's; it is man-made.
Conservationists continue to stress that protecting migratory birds supports not only biodiversity but also local economies. Bird tourism is a multi-billion-dollar industry globally. If the great flocks return to places like Chalan Beel or Sonadia, it could boost local livelihoods-boatmen, food vendors, photographers, and guides. Instead, the disappearance of birds brings economic loss.
Yet, the crisis is reversible. The path forward demands collective will-from government agencies, local communities, civil society, and the media.
Several actions are urgent:Strict enforcement of wildlife protection laws, Declaring key wetlands as "no-hunting zones",Dismantling illegal traps and Restoring damaged wetlands.
Introducing environmental education in schools and colleges
Encouraging investigative journalism and community-level awareness
Engaging local youth and volunteers in conservation efforts
The purpose behind all these initiatives is singular: to make Bangladesh's winter safe for its winged guests. These birds are the nation's seasonal visitors, and protecting them is a test of our environmental conscience. A country that fails to protect its migratory birds cannot safeguard its ecological future.
Bangladesh's winter is not silent yet. The birds still arrive-what many call their "last cry of hope." Whether we listen to that cry depends on us. There is still time to protect our wetlands, revive our ecosystems, and save those tireless travelers who cross oceans and continents to find refuge under our skies.
When nature sends its guests, our first responsibility is to offer them safety. To save their lives is to secure the future of our own children. In the wings of these migratory birds lies a silent environmental message-are we ready to hear it?
The writer is Assistant Professor & Head, Department of Sociology, Rossy Mozammel Women's Honours College
