Manipur to conduct first census of Amur falcon

IMPHAL — For the first time, the Manipur Forest Department, would be carrying out a head count of Amur falcons — world’s longest travelling raptors — in Tamenglong district where maximum of the birds roost.

The exercise is part of its upcoming string of programmes to safeguard these winged guests.

“We have engaged a well-known NGO in the state for conducting census at the roosting sites. They will carry out the head count when the birds completely arrive in Tamenglong,” said Divisional Forest Officer Amandeep of Tamenglong  on Friday.

Generally, the number of birds flocked in the district varies from one roosting site to another, he said. At some points, over 5000 falcons roosted while more than 50,000 were seen flocking at other roosting sites, he added.

Once the census is conducted, ‘we would maintain data on these birds’ arrival’, the Forest officer continued.

The Amur falcons locally known as Akhuaipuina usually arrive in Manipur in thousands, mostly in Tamenglong in mid-October from their breeding grounds in South Eastern Siberia and Northern China.

These pigeon sized birds, which undertake a yearly journey covering up to 22,000 km, leave the region in November end after having enough food for their non-stop flight to Africa where they spend their winters.

This bird is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

The district’s forest unit as well as Tamenglong based Rainforest Club Tamenglong (RCT) are all set to hold a series of programmes jointly to spread awareness among the villages, mostly the youths, to protect and show their love to the winged guest during their stay.

After the Tamenglong’s District Magistrate L Angshim Dangshawa released an order, banning on hunting, catching, killing and selling of the birds and using of air guns during the raptors’ roosting period, Noney counterpart, Joseph Pauline Kamson, also issued a similar order on Friday asking the 13 village authorities and other areas of Noney to keep their air guns in the respective custody of the village authorities.

The radio-tagging programme of Amur Falcon in Manipur’s Tamenglong was undertaken in two phases, first in 2018 and then in 2019, to conserve wildlife and also to study the route of these long-distance migratory birds and the environmental patterns along the route as India is a signatory to an international agreement on conservation of migratory birds of prey.

Also read: Manipur gears up for migratory Amur falcons, its winged guests