A bird in the Sundarbans is always discussed. The big attraction of any bird watcher is the black-faced parakeet or the beautiful duck. Research work in the Sundarbans now has to go every year. Last monsoon, I traveled a long way from Chandpai Range in the Sundarbans to Sharankhola in the hope of seeing the bird. During that journey, I saw this favorite bird only once in six days. But I didn't get a chance to take pictures.
We all have the idea that there is no other endangered animal in the Sundarbans than the tiger. But there are several more rare animals in the Sundarbans like the tiger. One of them is the Kalamukh Parapakhi. Muscade finfoot in English. Researchers estimate that there are only about 500 species of birds in the world. And the largest part of this number is seen in our Sundarbans. Although the Sundarbans was once a safe haven for birds, its numbers are declining at an alarming rate each year.
In such a critical situation, research on this bird started in the Sundarbans area in 2011 under the leadership of Sayem U Chowdhury, a bird researcher friend. The census covers a large part of the Sundarbans. The study also looks at how the bird's reproductive process works and what problems the birds are facing here.
During the study, a total of 25 bird nests were found. Several of these homes were abandoned. The breeding process of two pairs of birds in two houses was closely observed. The place was inside a narrow canal in Chita-Katka area.
But it is very difficult to observe its reproductive process from sitting in this deep canal. So the work was done through camera trapping in collaboration with the forest department.
During this long 23-day process, the nesting and movement of birds is monitored. Ten days after laying the eggs, the male leaves the female. He never came back. This nature of the bird of this species has added a new dimension to research. Then the female bird lays her eggs alone.
Exactly the following year’s research revealed more important information. Just before hatching from eggs in a house, an eagle ate all the eggs. The mother bird spent several days near the house and left the area.
Around the world, the habitat crisis of the Kalamukh paraphernalia is considered to be the main reason for its loss. The main problem in our Sundarbans is the unplanned fishing of fishermen. Fishermen damage their nests while fishing with four-leaf nets. The research team questioned the fishermen about the bird in about 100 prisoners. Each of them has said that at least once in their life, they have eaten the meat of a black-faced parakeet. Most fishermen say they find the bird's nest while fishing with a four-leaf net. Then, in the dark of night, he hunts the eggs from his nest.
In the deep Sundarbans the tides have a big impact on the life of the bird. The bird seeks food on the banks of the canal at low tide. Small fish, shrimps, insects and crabs are their main food. Researchers speculate that salinity in the Sundarbans may have an impact on survival.
There is no place in the Sundarbans where tigers, deer, dolphins or crocodiles can be compared to this bird. The bird is different from all other birds in that it can survive in the Badaban.
Although it looks like a duck, it is a black-faced parakeet but it does not belong to the duck family Many claim it to be a beautiful duck because of its long yellow lips and green legs.
Apart from Bangladesh, the bird now survives in small numbers in Myanmar and Cambodia. To save this endangered bird, a sanctuary needs to be built from Supati in the Sundarbans to Chita-Katka. Our Sundarbans will be a big habitat for the bird if we can build a four-leaf net-free zone.
Well written