Dear Humans of Bangladesh,
Happy World Wildlife Day! I hope you’re celebrating by doing something nice for the planet—like planting a tree, cleaning a river, or just not throwing plastic out of your car window. As for me, I’m celebrating by writing this letter to you from Dhaka, a city I used to love visiting during my annual migration. As I prepare to fly back home, I feel it’s my duty to ring a warning bell for you before it’s too late. (Spoiler alert: it already is.)
Let me introduce myself. I’m a Siberian Bluethroat, a tiny bird with a big song, flying from northern Europe to escape the cold. Dhaka once let me rest, feast on insects, and sing my heart out in its green corners.
But lately, it feels more like a concrete jungle that’s forgotten its roots. Must every patch of grass become a shopping mall or a residential area? I’ve heard you humans talk about “development,” but from where I’m sitting, it looks more like destruction.
The haor situation
My fellow migratory birds all say the same—Tanguar and Hakaluki Haor aren’t what they used to be. Hakaluki alone has seen a 45% drop in migratory birds. Birdpedia (yes, we have our own Wikipedia) reports 58,281 birds in 2017, crashing to 18,660 by 2020. Sure, there’s been a slight rise in 2023, but let’s be real—it’s only because humans backed off during the pandemic.
And Tanguar Haor? Don’t even get me started. It once hosted nearly half of Bangladesh’s 1.2 million waterbirds (2008–2015), but now, 40% of its wetlands are farmland and settlements. Forty percent! I can’t even scroll through Birdstagram without flinching. Imagine losing 40% of your home to a parking lot—how would you feel?
A little bird history
Look, I know the European human ancestors colonised you for years, and I’m really sorry about that, okay? But that doesn’t mean you should take it out on us birds! We’ve always been your supporters—did you know almost half of your bird community is us? Out of 718 native species in Bangladesh, 388 are migratory. We’re basically your asset. And how do you treat us? By destroying our habitats, polluting your waters, and hunting us down. Not cool, Bangladesh. Not cool.
The duck drama
Let’s talk about my duck friends for a moment. It has been featured in TBS (The Bird Standard) that the duck community extended a special invite to the critically endangered Sir Bhuti Hash (Baer’s Pochard) this year. But after witnessing the habitat destruction, poaching, and all-around chaos, Sir Bhuti is reportedly furious. Sources say he’s so mad, there’s little chance he’ll be RSVPing for next year’s gathering.
Moreover, Mallards, Eurasian Teals, and Northern Pintails have long flocked to these wetlands—but indiscriminate fishing, fish farming, and paddy cultivation have turned it into a nightmare. On top of that—traps, baits, and hunting—really? Is this how you treat your guests?
A plea from the skies
Bangladesh, you have laws to protect us—you’re a signatory of the Convention on Migratory Bird Conservation and have the Wildlife Conservation and Security Act 2012. But what’s the point if they’re not enforced? And please, for the love of feathers, stop drenching everything in pesticides—how am I supposed to eat ants and beetles if they’re poisoned? Don’t forget, it’s all connected—protecting us means conserving the entire ecosystem, from wetlands to the tiniest creatures that keep it alive.
We birds have options. If you don’t treat us right, we’ll have to fly elsewhere, like many already have. But Bangladesh is special to us—it’s been our winter home for centuries. Please don’t let it become a memory.
Yours seasonally,
An anxious Siberian Bluethroat