Out of mist, they arrive in JU for fleeting their wings

Sagor Mia, JU :

The first chill of winter creeps over Jahangirnagar University (JU) and suddenly almost like a whispered promise the lakes begin to wake in their familiar appearance.

A lone bird, a traveller, from a land thousands of miles away from here, cuts through the morning mist. Its tired wings tremble with exhaustion, its journey carved with storms and dark nights. And as it lands softly on the still water of the lake, the campus exhales because this single arrival marks the beginning of a miracle that repeats only once every year.

Within hours, the silence breaks. The sky rises. The lakes shimmer with life. Thus, the JU campus transforms into a sanctuary where the world’s wandering birds, battered by distance yet relentless in hope, find rest, warmth, and safety. The JU has once again welcomed flocks of migratory birds as winter sets in, turning its lakes into seasonal sanctuaries.

A few lesser whistling ducks have already been sighted at the lake near the old registrar building.
“I wait for this season all year,” says Farhana, a third-year student and amateur birdwatcher. “The birds make the campus feel alive. It’s like we share our winter with another world,” she added.

As per the report of the Zoology Department of JU, once the campus hosted about 205 bird species, including 69 migratory ones. Of these, 126 are native to Bangladesh. The first recorded arrival of migratory birds at Jahangirnagar University dates back to 1986, when around 90 species were identified.

“For us standing at the lakeside, taking breath in the cold air, this moment is more than a sight, it’s a feeling. A reminder, of resilience, of return, of the unspoken bond between us and the fleeting wings,” said Nazmus Sakib, a student of the Institute of Comparative Literature and Culture (ICLC) Department of JU to The New Nation.
In 2014, the Bangladesh Government declared Jahangirnagar University as an official sanctuary for migratory birds.

Unfortunately, bird numbers have declined in recent years due to noise, vehicular movement and human negligence around the lakes. Despite warning signs, visitors often disturb the habitats, prompting some species to avoid the campus.

Environmental groups warn that the university, a haven under threat, must take stronger conservation steps including regulating visitor movement, increasing protective guards, limiting waste near lakes, and restoring marsh vegetation. “Without proper management, the birds may begin to skip this stopover,” says Shuvo, a researcher and student of the Environmental Science Department of JU.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, when the campus was closed, bird numbers surged due to reduced human activity.

But with the return of crowds, conservationists fear the sanctuary may lose its appeal unless urgent measures are taken.

This year, Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) has taken some visible steps for the fleeting wings. JUCSU has already built resting platforms at Monpura Lake and other sites to provide safe havens for the birds.

Environmentalists have urged the authorities to act swiftly to restore the lakes’ environment and ensure the campus remains a safe winter refuge for migratory birds.

Students and visitors expect the number of species to rise by mid-December, as in previous years.