Amur Falcons Arrive in Manipur: A Sign of Seasonal Migration
Arrival of Amur Falcons in Tamenglong
The migratory raptors typically arrive in parts of Northeast from the second week of October
Imphal, Oct 14: The annual migration of Amur falcons has commenced in the Tamenglong district of Manipur, with the first sightings noted in Guangram village on October 11.
These migratory birds are known to arrive in the Northeast around the second week of October and typically stay until late November before continuing their journey to Africa.
Confirming their arrival, Amit Kelar, the Divisional Forest Officer of Tamenglong, stated, “Yes, it has started arriving in small batches.”
Residents of Guangram village, located approximately 150 km west of Imphal, reported the initial sightings this year.
Amur falcons (Falco amurensis) are recognized as some of the longest-distance migratory raptors globally.
These birds undertake an impressive annual journey of around 20,000 km to reach their winter habitats in southern Africa, arriving in significant numbers in Nagaland, Manipur, and other northeastern regions in October.
They typically leave in November after accumulating enough energy reserves for their non-stop flight to Africa, where they spend the winter months.
This yearly migration has led to various conservation efforts in Manipur, especially in the Tamenglong and Noney districts.
The state Forest Department organizes numerous activities during this season, including the Amur Falcon Festival, aimed at raising awareness and encouraging community involvement in the protection of these birds.
Additionally, two satellite-tagged Amur falcons, named Apapang (male) and Alang (female), initiated their southward migration from their breeding grounds in northeastern China on October 10.
According to Dr. Suresh Kumar from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), they are anticipated to arrive in Manipur by October 20.
The names of the birds are derived from a roosting site and the Barak and Irang rivers in the Tamenglong district.
The satellite-tagging initiative in Manipur began in 2018 to monitor the migration routes and environmental conditions encountered by the falcons.
In 2019, a team from WII, led by Dr. Kumar, successfully radio-tagged five Amur falcons, including two males, in locations such as Puching village in Tamenglong.
This initiative received support from the state Forest Department, local administration, Rainforest Club, Tamenglong, and community members.
The program aids in research on the migration of these long-distance travelers and bolsters conservation efforts along their migratory paths. India is a signatory to an international agreement focused on the conservation of migratory birds of prey.
Amur falcons are safeguarded under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 and are listed in Schedule IV.
In May, Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav praised Manipur’s satellite-tagging program as “one of the successful community-led conservation efforts in India.”