Bagan’s rare birds need protection

Four rare bird species native to central Burma’s Bagan region are at risk of their habitat being destroyed, according to ornithologists.

During a speech at an eco-tourism workshop in Rangoon, bird expert Thein Aung, from the Myanmar Bird and Nature Society, called for greater protection for the birds of Bagan.

He said four rare bird species that live in Bagan’s archaeological zone — the White-throated Blabber, Lerdon’s Minivet, the Burmese Bushlark and the Hooded Treepie — are being threatened by an increase of tourists flocking to see the ancient temples.

“Visitors who come to Bagan on cultural tours are switching to bird watching as all four endemic bird species live in the archaeological zone,” he said.

There has been an increase in calls from archaeologists to preserve the crumbling temples, but Thein Aung believes the same protection should be afforded to the birds that live among the heritage sites.

Continued ...