Hunting mitigation 

Since September 2010, a series of surveys have been conducted to identify hunters and alternative livelihood options for them on Sonadia Island. After a solid year of background work, BSCP finally signed conservation agreements with 25 active shorebird hunters of the island between October and December 2011. Alternative livelihood options taken up include seed and fertilisers for watermelon cultivation, fishing boat, net, livestock, grocery and tailoring (sewing machine) shops. Among these alternatives, the watermelon cultivation was the most successful one. Ex-hunters who cultivated watermelons have earned almost double the amount they used to make by trapping birds.

Village Conservation Groups (VCG) of the five villages on and around Sonadia Island were monitoring these activities, and ex-hunters repayed a small percentage of the income generated by the alternative livelihood to their VCG. The respective VCGs will then used this money for further hunting mitigation and shorebird conservation awareness within these villages such as building billboards, small scale campaign etc. The entire process was being monitored and guided by the Bangladesh Spoon-billed Sandpiper Conservation Project.

Finding and protecting new sites

Limited resources have prevented comprehensive shorebird surveys along the entire coastline of Bangladesh. To address this, BSCP has adopted and continues to apply a targeted, science-led approach that uses species distribution modelling and remote sensing to identify potential wintering habitats for the Spoon-billed Sandpiper before undertaking field surveys.

Using satellite imagery from the Landsat, Sentinel-2 and Google Earth, we systematically analyse coastal areas with habitat characteristics similar to known Spoon-billed Sandpiper wintering sites across the species’ range. This ongoing process has enabled the identification of previously unsurveyed areas, particularly within the Meghna Estuary that are likely to support wintering Spoon-billed Sandpipers. Subsequent ground surveys have confirmed the presence of the species, along with many other globally important waterbirds.

By continuously identifying and documenting new sites, BSCP generates the scientific evidence needed to inform conservation planning and advocate for the protection of critical coastal wetlands before they are lost to development.

Research and monitoring 

Long-term research and monitoring form the backbone of BSCP’s scientific and conservation efforts. Since 2009, we have conducted monthly shorebird surveys during every winter at Sonadia Island, Cox’s Bazar, SE Bangladesh — one of the most important wintering sites for the Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper in the region. These consistent surveys have generated one of the longest datasets on the species anywhere in its wintering range or in South Asia, revealing population trends of all migratory shorebirds and informing urgent conservation action. In addition, BSCP conducts scan surveys at Sonadia Island targeting Spoon-billed Sandpipers to estimate closed local populations and to contribute to global population estimates using mark–resighting methods.

Beyond Sonadia Island, BSCP carries out regular mid-winter monitoring each January at 45–55 coastal sites across the Meghna Estuary, covering both known and newly discovered habitats. This large-scale, systematic monitoring enables us to track changes in distribution, identify emerging key sites and assess threats across Bangladesh’s dynamic coastal landscapes, ensuring that conservation decisions are guided by robust scientific evidence.

Education and outreach 

Community outreach and education have been integral to BSCP since 2011, recognising that long-term conservation depends on both local support and informed decision-making. Early in the project, when large numbers of Spoon-billed Sandpipers were recorded in Bangladesh during 2010–2011, BSCP actively engaged policy makers, government agencies and the wider public through national print and digital media, helping to raise awareness of the species’ global importance and conservation urgency. In later years, this engagement has expanded through social media and online platforms, allowing conservation messages, survey results and policy-relevant findings to reach a broader national and international audience.

At the community level, BSCP has conducted a wide range of awareness activities on Sonadia Island and surrounding areas, including school campaigns, village meetings, folk drama, film screenings, exhibitions and public discussions focused on coastal wetlands and the Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper. A major year-long awareness campaign launched in 2012 reached more than 1,000 community members and engaged local government and Forest Department officials, leading to commitments to avoid mangrove plantation on key shorebird habitats. BSCP regularly observes World Migratory Bird Day, expanding outreach to local schools and reaching over 300 students annually through talks, art activities and conservation messages delivered by former hunters. To reinforce awareness, thousands of posters, leaflets, and calendars have been distributed across villages, markets and public spaces. Since 2015, BSCP has further innovated outreach by organising a biennial community boat race, reviving traditional folk culture to promote shorebird conservation and strengthening local ownership through celebration and pride.