Crows need a place to nest in Dhaka

There was a time when Dhaka's residents would wake up to the cawing of crows. At dawn, crows would flock to rooftops, cornices, trees, electric poles, and wires. Among birds, the crow is the blackest, but it is very beneficial for humans and is considered the national bird of cities. Even if other birds are not as visible in urban areas, the presence of crows was always notable. Often, their harsh cawing would become a nuisance, but nowadays, crows are almost rarely seen in Dhaka city. The house crow has already disappeared, and now the common crow is also on the verge of vanishing.

Bird experts say that the development of urban infrastructure and the increasing human population are severely disrupting the crows' habitat. As a result, the number of crows in the city is decreasing day by day. Simanta Dipu, a wildlife researcher at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), told the media that the decline in the crow population is due to avian influenza. Another reason is their diet. Urbanization has brought significant changes to the crows' food sources.

The number of poultry farms in our country has increased significantly compared to before. Many of these poultry chickens die from various diseases and are often disposed of indiscriminately. Crows, like other animals, consume these discarded chickens. By eating these diseased chickens, crows get infected with pathogens. There are records of large numbers of crows dying due to this, although it hasn't been scientifically proven yet. However, we have found evidence in some places.

The researcher further stated that crows used to keep the city cleaner than the workers who now maintain urban cleanliness. With the decrease in the crow population, these waste foods have become food for dogs, leading to an increase in the dog population. Consequently, people are being more frequently attacked by dogs, and millions of takas are being spent annually as a result. If crows had the opportunity to survive, the government might not have to incur this additional expense.

The above reasons show how crucial crows are for a city. Crows not only keep the city clean but also help maintain ecological balance. The disappearance of crows is not just unfortunate; it is detrimental to nature and the national economy.

Crows generally build their nests in tall, large trees, and the lack of such trees has put their lives in danger. The city is risky for crows; they don't have safe places to perch. Currently, their main perching spots are power lines, electricity cables, and dish antenna lines, which are not suitable for them. This indicates that there are no proper places for crows to perch in the city.

There are no trees for resting, and there is a lack of nesting sites. In other words, there are no places or trees where they can build nests to lay eggs. Therefore, both the citizens and the government need to take appropriate initiatives to save the crows. Not just crows, but we want to see an increase in the presence of all bird species in the city. If birds are flying in the sky, it means that place is still safe.