Photo: BSS

NILPHAMARI, Sept 3, 2026 (BSS) - The western Dangapara village in Domar upazila of the district comes alive with the chirping of birds at dawn, as villagers have preserved a safe haven for birds for generations, rising above personal interests.

Through their sacrifice, affection and commitment to nature, a large area of the village has turned into a natural bird sanctuary, attracting nature lovers with the sights and sounds of thousands of birds.

At a time when incidents of indiscriminate hunting and killing of birds are common, the collective compassion of the villagers towards birds is a rare example of coexistence between humans and wildlife.

Villagers said numerous bamboo groves surrounding homesteads and located close to one another have gradually become safe nesting grounds for birds. The generosity of the people of western Dangapara has made the area a refuge for various bird species that have lost their habitats due to environmental degradation.

A recent visit to the village found the extensive bamboo groves functioning like a secure natural world for birds, with birds moving freely among the trees. Herons, cormorants, nightjars, doves, magpies, oriental magpies, mynas, weaver birds and sparrows, among other species, were seen there. The flapping of wings and continuous chirping created a lively atmosphere throughout the area.

Local resident Aminur Rahman, 50, told BSS that birds had been freely roaming in the village since the time of their forefathers. He said the villagers had learned from their ancestors to be compassionate towards nature and birds.

"People in the village learned to be kind to birds from our forefathers. We are teaching our children in the same way. Since childhood, we have seen countless birds living in the bamboo groves beside our homes. We consider these birds our assets. We have been preserving the bamboo groves so that the birds can live safely," he said.

He added that villagers also rescued baby birds that had fallen from their nests and carefully returned them to their nests so that they could grow under the care of their mothers.

"We remain vigilant so that the birds can reproduce without disturbance," Aminur said.

Nilphamari Forest Department's acting officer Nishi Kanta Malakar told BSS that a bird colony had developed in the village through the villagers' long-standing sacrifice and boundless love for birds.

"We respect their sacrifice. The Forest Department has been working to raise public awareness against the killing and hunting of birds, while also providing legal assistance to protect the bird colony," he said.