By Tikaram Upreti

Jhapa, Sept. 9: A government office in eastern district, with its lush green premises, has become a safe abode for migratory birds that also provides them with abundance of foods.
Road Division Office of Jhapa and its surroundings at Damak Municipality-6 look no different from a conservation area. Apart from all the hustle and bustle of the city, trees with all greenery stand on either side of the road.
Different kinds of trees planted within the walls of the office have been serving as a safe haven for the migratory birds.
Every tree leaf inside the compound of the Road Division Office is painted white with bird droppings. Also, birds chirping and playing in the branches of trees serve as an idyllic setting to the visitors.
“Birds mostly visit this area in February every year,” said Dharma Acharya, who has been working as a helper for the office for 17 years.
Thousands of birds come to the area to hatch their eggs. Hundreds of nests have been made by the birds in each tree.
“The ornithologists say that these birds migrate all the way from Siberia,” said Acharya. “They stay here for eight months.”
The migratory birds stay at the office premises as it provides safe haven to them, said Acharya.“Despite the establishment of dense settlement, the habitat of birds has made the city beautiful,” said Romnath Oli, Mayor of Damak Municipality.
Conservation of the office is also being done to provide shelter to the migrators. In the area of five bighas of land, tall compounds have been made to prevent the bird hunters from entering the premises.
Also, to provide drinking water to the birds, holes have been made in different places to reserve water.
Since the office is located in the heart of the city, the foods disposed by people haves been the major diet for the migrators, said Shyam Kumar Yadav, Chief, Road Division Office, Damak.
“We have become used to the sound of birds chirping,” said Yadav. “The office becomes deserted after the birds return to their home.”
The office is filled with Blue Mimosa, Mango, Catcheu, Sissoo, Kadam and Eucalyptus trees. Four types of Herons, local name used in Siberia live in these trees. The birds are usually of white, light black, light yellow and brown colour.
“These birds are known as water crow in Damak. Fishes and insects are their preys,” said Acharya.
Apart from migratory birds, the office has been serving as a habitat for local birds like crows and cuckoos.
The number of people visiting the place for bird-watching is also increasing.