Since 2010, Umru village on the Assam-Meghalaya border is witnessing a flock of Amur falcons – the world’s longest travelling raptors – every winters.
About:
Scientific name: Falco amurensis.
They are small raptors of the falcon family. Raptors are birds that hunt invertebrates and vertebrates including other birds.
Their diet consists mainly of insects, such as termites. They have red feet.
Distribution: They breed in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China, wintering in Southern Africa.
Migration Journey: They have one of the longest migration routes, flying almost 22,000 km up and down their breeding and wintering grounds.
They start their journey from South – eastern Siberia and northern China.
Then en-route, in the month of October to November, a large number of Amur falcons arrive in the northeast India, especially near the Doyang reservoir in Wokha district of Nagaland in Nagaland for roosting (sleeping/resting).
On their return flight they fly over Bangladesh and Myanmar after entering India but skip Nagaland.
And then they travel to Africa which is their final destination. In Africa they go to Somalia, Kenya and South Africa.
IUCN status: Least Concern.
Protection:
They are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The Nagaland government hosted the first Amur Falcon Conservation Week from November 8 to 10.
Dear Student,
You have still not entered your mailing address. Please enter the address where all the study materials will be sent to you. (If applicable).
