Despite the decline in the number of migratory birds this winter in the coal and steel belt of Dhanbad-Bokaro in Jharkhand, poachers continue to kill the winter visitors. The exotic birds that come in search of a home here to escape the severe winter, are ironically finding their way on to the plates of locals. Thousands of migratory birds belonging to more than 16 species used to visit the subcontinent during early eighties and at present, the number has dropped drastically into hundreds. Now about 500-odd winged guest are visiting in our country, told an official. “Global warming, pollution and frequent bombings in conflict zones along their flight path are the main reasons behind the decline in the number of the winged guest,” added the official. But poachers — usually local tribals — claim they do it for quick money and have been active all along. This winter, they have been hunting for the past 20 days in regions of Dhanbad and Bokaro. This season Bokaro district’s Tenughat, Chandrapura, Pichri, Hathia Pathar, Jamunia Dams, Chandori, Nawadih, Gomia among others have reported sighting of various species of these migratory birds like — ruff, black winged common teal, green shank, white and citirine wagtail, northern pintail, gargely, common coot, mallard, pygmy goose, pochard, red crested pochard and combed duck. “We are very excited after seeing so many species of migratory birds this winter after a decade but stunned to see the brutal killing of these birds by tribal people,” said Anand Mahato, a bird lover. He added, “In the early nineties thousands of visitors from Bengal, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar used to frequently visit these area, including Maithan Dam in Dhanbad, to catch a glimpse of the exotic birds”. “But now poaching and Naxal threat has bring decline in the numbers of winged guest as well as visitors,” lamented Mahato.