Bangladesh News

Golapi Shalik or Rosy Starling is one of the rarest migratory birds in Bangladesh, eight of which were recently sighted by Dr Reza Khan, a nature lover, on St Martin’s Island also known as Narikel Jinjira.

He sighted the birds, also called Sturnus Roseus, on the south-eastern corner of the island during a bird watching tour.

Rosy Starlings had earlier been sighted just a few times by Bangladeshi birdwatchers.

Dr Khan first saw a flock of six starlings in Raha Boinna, a completely denuded old mangrove forest area that is now occupied by a tourist lodge, and in Moora, the highest elevated place on the island supporting a graveyard for the people of Dakshin Para and Siradia.

Almost all but one Shalik was in full winter plumage while one had a little touch of rosy-pink over the body. Rosy Starling got its name from its rosy plumage that appears in the birds only during the breeding season, when they remain in parts of Central Asia and Europe. In those areas it is a common bird but quite rare in Bangladesh.

Golapi Shalik is of the size of Goborey Shalik or Asian Pied Starling which is quite common in Bangladesh, but it has a prominent crest and a different colour combination.

The birds found by Dr Khan were very preoccupied looking for food that is scarce on the island. Golapi Shalik loves soft fleshy fruits, seeds, insects, and worms. So, they could be found foraging both on the ground and among fruiting trees and shrubs.

Apparently the good sign is that most tourists do not visit the shrub and herb covered mini jungles of the south-eastern segment of the southern tip of the island prospected by Dr Khan who was satisfied with the usual behaviour of the Shaliks.

In addition to this migratory species, the island also has Kalo Shalik or Common Starling that Dr Khan had recorded for the first time in the country, and had collected a specimen for the zoology department of Dhaka University in 1980 as a part of a team of 32 scientists who had made a scientific expedition under the leadership of great national geographer late Prof MI Choudhury of Jahangir Nagar University.

The island has a good resident population of Goborey Shalik and Bhat Shalik while Jhuti Shalik and Kath Shalik (Pied Starling, Common Myna, Jungle Myna, and Grey-headed Starling) are rather rare.

All Shaliks help the humanity indirectly by eating harmful insects and worms, by dispersing fruits and seeds, and by cross pollinating flowers when they drink nectar from those.