SM Suman Rashid :
In addition to the well-known names of national fruits, flowers, and fish of Bangladesh, there is also a bird, the Doyel. Although the Doyel is called the national bird of Bangladesh, this bird is being lost due to lack of proper care.
In line with this, the honey-calling doyel bird is also disappearing from Barguna Amtali Upazila.
This doyel bird could always be seen in the village’s bamboo groves, coconut groves, and even on the roofs or roofs of houses.
There are seven unions in Amtali Upazila. After visiting all the areas of the seven unions, including Gulishakhali, Kukua, Atharogachia, Holodia, Arpangasia and Amtali Sadar Unions, starting from Gramganj, it was found that the number of birds is not as high as before.
And even the birds that exist are disappearing due to lack of conservation.
We are introduced to this bird during the introduction of the alphabet for children. The history and tradition of the country are intertwined with the small black and white bird. It is known that the national bird Doel is disappearing due to various reasons including climate change, gradual unplanned creation of habitats, illegal hunting, post-hunting smuggling, widespread pesticide use, and foreign invasion.
Poachers are illegally entering the forests and killing wildlife and birds. According to relevant sources, there are allegations that the Wildlife Fund established by the then government in 1961 did not play a significant role in protecting the forests of the plains.
The Bangladesh government invented various ways to conserve wildlife in 1973. Notable among them are the Wildlife Conservation Act, the creation of designated forest areas, the establishment of parks, the creation of hunting reserves, the establishment of wildlife habitats, and amusement parks.
The face of Doel can be seen on the two-rupee note, but the plastic Doel birds hanging on paper, money, and in various stationery shops are not able to satisfy the minds of visitors or Doel fans.
Doel is a short-tailed bulbul-shaped bird decorated with white and black. Doel can be seen almost everywhere in the country. The upper part of the male Doel is shiny bluish-black. The wings are dark brown with clear white long spots. The tail is black but the tip is white. The black parts of the female Doel’s body are brown and look like dirty sand. They nest in natural hollows of trees or bushes. They are usually seen in pairs in bushy forests, gardens, villages and localities. They give a sweet, soft whistle. The tip of the tail dances. When sitting still, the Doel’s tail looks like a rooster’s tail. During the breeding season, the male Doel sings very loudly in a melodious voice early in the morning and in the afternoon. They can also imitate the calls of other birds. Doel mainly eats insects and worms. Their breeding season is from April to July. The female Doel lays 3-5 eggs. The eggs are generally pale in color. This bird lives up to 15 years.
Among the many species and characters of birds in Bangladesh, the Doyel has been selected as the national bird. Its appearance and nature are in perfect harmony with the nature of Bengal. This small bird is about six inches long, has a light and thin body, and its legs are as thin as a keel. Its body color is a mixture of white and black. The feathers on its back are mixed with black, and its belly is pure white. The tail is slightly larger than its body, but not drooping, but spoon-shaped.
Doel is also called the songbird. This gentle-natured bird moves in the cold weather of nature. Therefore, it can be seen in the half-light and half-darkness of dawn and evening. This beautiful bird is very beloved by everyone, and it is also very respected. Doel is a symbol of unwavering peace.
Bird conservationists and visitors said that the relevant authorities of the Forest Department should ensure conservation and safety, in addition to raising awareness about the conservation of the Doyel bird.
These birds are on the verge of extinction due to the destruction of man-made nature due to mismanagement by the Forest Department authorities.
Bird keeper Md. DM Almas said, “Birds enhance the beauty of the mind. Bird keeping has been my favorite hobby since childhood. Whenever I saw many types of birds around the house, they would come to our yard. Even if I tried to catch them, they would fly away and fail, but seeing the birds would be successful. However, it is absolutely necessary to implement the law to protect birds.”
Even though there are laws in place to protect birds in the country, they are not being taken seriously. We want that law to be strictly implemented. This is what bird protection conscious groups are demanding.
To protect the balance of the environment, the government should enact laws to enforce restrictions on bird hunting, and take initiatives to preserve bird colonies, both publicly and privately. This will ensure bird protection, they demand.
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