Migratory bird numbers at Jahangirnagar University have collapsed as wetlands around Dhaka disappear, warning of wider ecosystem failure and an urgent need for coordinated conservation action by authorities and local communities.
Jahangirnagar University, once one of Bangladesh’s most important winter refuges for migratory birds, is gradually falling silent. Over the past few years, the number of migratory birds visiting the campus has dropped sharply from nearly 7,000 at its peak to around 2,000 this winter. Conservationists warn that this dramatic decline mirrors the rapid destruction of wetlands in and around Dhaka and signals a deeper ecological crisis.
For nearly two decades, misty winter mornings at the university on the outskirts of the capital were defined by the arrival of thousands of ducks and waterfowl from Siberia, Mongolia, China, Nepal and surrounding regions. The campus lakes shimmered with movement, earning Jahangirnagar international recognition as a rare urban sanctuary for migratory birds in a densely populated megacity region.
That spectacle is now fading fast.
Numbers in Freefall
Data collected by the university’s Department of Zoology show a consistent decline since 2020. While earlier winters recorded between 6,000 and 7,000 birds, numbers fell to around 2,500 to 3,000 over the past three seasons and dropped even further this year.
Several lakes that once hosted hundreds of birds, particularly those near transport routes and residential halls, are now nearly empty. Only two lakes, including the Wildlife Conservation and Study Centre Lake, have shown relatively stable bird presence this winter.
“This is not a normal fluctuation,” said Professor Dr Md Kamrul Hasan of the Department of Zoology. “It reflects a broader ecological decline. The disappearance of migratory birds is a visible symptom of ecosystem collapse.”
Species Gone, Silence Growing
The loss is not limited to overall numbers. Conservationists report that several species that were once regular winter visitors, including smaller ducks, waders, bush birds and wetland-dependent raptors, have stopped arriving altogether.
“What we are seeing now are only the later and weaker waves of migration,” said conservationist and wildlife photographer Aurittro Sattar. “Birds are concentrating in the very few places where disturbance is minimal. Most former habitats have become unsuitable.”
The Crisis Extends Beyond the Campus
While unplanned construction, deforestation, fish farming in lakes, noise and unrestricted public access have degraded habitats within the university, experts stress that the main cause lies beyond campus boundaries.
“Migratory ducks do not choose roosting sites randomly,” explained veteran ornithologist Dr Reza Khan. “They need large feeding grounds within roughly a 10-kilometre radius. Those wetlands around Dhaka have almost disappeared.”
Low-lying floodplains that once stretched across Savar, Tongi, Purbachal, Badda and Demra, supporting rice cultivation, aquatic vegetation, fish and invertebrates, have been rapidly converted into housing projects, roads and industrial zones.
“At least 80 percent of the wetlands that once sustained migratory birds around Dhaka are gone,” Dr Khan said. “Without food, birds will not return, no matter how clean or attractive the lakes appear.”
A Shrinking Refuge
Historically, migratory birds around Dhaka have repeatedly shifted roosting sites as urbanisation advanced, from city ponds to botanical gardens, factory lakes and eventually Jahangirnagar University. Now, even this last major refuge is under severe pressure.
Some flocks have already relocated to remaining low-lying wetlands farther away, particularly between Dhamrai and Kalampur. However, conservationists warn that these areas, too, are rapidly shrinking due to unregulated development.
“If current trends continue, migratory ducks will eventually disappear from greater Dhaka altogether,” Dr Khan warned. “A few may survive in scattered ponds, but the great winter congregations will be lost.”
Why Migratory Birds Come to Bangladesh
Many bird species migrate seasonally in search of suitable habitats. Most of Bangladesh’s migratory birds arrive from the Himalayan region and beyond. When winter temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere drop below freezing, forests, wetlands and farmlands become covered in snow, making survival and food collection difficult.
At that time, birds travel thousands of kilometres from Europe, Mongolia, China and areas around the Himalayas toward relatively warmer regions like Bangladesh. As winter weakens, they return to their original habitats.
Birds select areas that offer safe shelter, abundant food and minimal disturbance. As a result, places such as Tanguar Haor, Maheshkhali, Nijhum Dwip, Gomostapur and Bholahat in Chapainawabganj, Sirajganj, Panchagarh, Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Kishoreganj and the char areas of Barishal once came alive with birdsong each winter.
Jahangirnagar University: From Sanctuary to Stress Zone
Jahangirnagar University emerged as one of the most important destinations for migratory birds near Dhaka. Due to the free movement of numerous local and foreign species, the campus was once officially declared a bird sanctuary.
During winter, water levels in campus lakes naturally recede, exposing aquatic plants, snails, shells and other organisms that form key food sources. Traditionally, by late March, birds return to their original habitats.
Migratory birds were first recorded on the JU campus in 1986. According to the Department of Zoology, around 206 bird species have been observed so far, including 126 resident species and the rest migratory. During winter alone, 20 to 25 migratory species were once regularly recorded, most of them ducks and waterfowl.
Why Birds Are Disappearing from the Campus
Birds are essential indicators of ecological health. They enhance natural beauty, support biodiversity and contribute to human well-being. Yet this year, their numbers have dropped dramatically.
Professor Dr Md Kamrul Hasan identifies excessive human disturbance as a primary factor. “Large numbers of people visit the campus daily, especially on weekends when crowds multiply,” he said. “Birds will not settle in lakes surrounded by constant noise, movement and human intrusion.”
Uncontrolled access to lake shores, littering of plastic and food waste, water pollution, irregular lake maintenance and shrinking water bodies have made the habitat increasingly hostile. Reduced wetlands have also diminished food sources such as snails and fish. Light pollution and climate change are further compounding the problem.
Youth Voices Call for Action
Environmentalists warn that what is disappearing from Jahangirnagar’s winter skies is not just birds, but an ancient ecological link between continents.
“These migratory birds travel thousands of kilometres across continents and depend on Bangladesh’s wetlands to survive the winter,” said Sohanur Rahman, Executive Coordinator of YouthNet Global. “When these birds stop coming, it tells us the ecosystems supporting global migration are breaking down. Protecting wetlands is essential not only for local biodiversity but for safeguarding international migration routes.”
Youth activists across Bangladesh are increasingly calling for stronger wetland protection laws, community-led conservation and climate-sensitive urban planning to protect remaining habitats.
Admitting Failure, Demanding Action
University authorities acknowledge that conservation efforts have been inadequate. Limited funding, unchecked development, open public access and the absence of long term ecological planning have taken a heavy toll.
“Our resources for lake restoration and bird conservation are limited,” said JU estate officer Abdur Rob. “Growing human pressure and uncontrolled activities have damaged habitats we failed to protect.”
Experts stress that campus-level actions alone, such as lake cleaning or partial restrictions, will not reverse the decline. Responsibility now lies with the Ministry of Environment, urban planning authorities such as RAJUK and the university administration to act together.
Without urgent steps, including legal protection of remaining wetlands within a 10 to 15 kilometre radius of the campus, strict enforcement of ecological buffer zones, restrictions on commercial activities in wetlands and long term restoration planning, Jahangirnagar University risks losing its remaining winter visitors.
Once a symbol of coexistence between urban life and nature, the campus now stands as a warning. When wetlands vanish, even centuries-old migration routes can fall silent.
