Radio-tagged Tamenglong, Longleng begin its flight

Our Correspondent
Imphal, Nov. 22 (EMN): Satellite radio transmitter fitted female Amur Falcon ‘Tamenglong’ which was among tens of thousands of Amur Falcons after taking shelter in Tamenglong and Noney districts, begins its non-stop incredible flight to South Africa, according Scientist of Wildlife Institute of India(WII), Dehradun.
Unfortunately ‘Manipur,’ an Amur Falcon which was fitted radio transmitters along with ‘Tamenglong’ by WII scientist Dr. R Suresh kumar together with Hungarian Raptor Biologists on November 5 to study their migratory route on November 5, could not join the non-stop flight after he was killed by unidentified suspected hunters somewhere in Tamenglong district on November 9.
Otherwise “Tamenglong” tagged for the first time at a roosting site at Chiuluan village in Tamenglong district of Manipur started its non-stop five days migratory journey from November 19 and has now covered 3500 km while “Longleng” which was tagged at a roost site in Yaongyimchen village in Longleng district of Nagaland on October 30, 2016 is now following “Tamenglong” and covered about 3000km, Dr. R Suresh kumar said when contacted on phone.

“We are so excited to know more about them as Tamenglong is currently flying over Arabian Sea and she is followed by Longleng as per the transmitted datas. They are expected to reach Somalia within two days,” the scientist who had so far fitted transmitter to around ten birds said. “Such tracking help us to understand the bird better and other conservation activities.”

The study of migratory routes of Amur Falcon will also help in understanding the environment cues as well, he felt.
Amur falcons (Falco amurensis) which is one of the least known birds among 69 falcon species, are known to breed in southeast Russia and northern China and migrate west through India and across the Arabian Sea to southern Africa where they spend their winter, making a round-trip of at least 20,000 km annually, travelling between their breeding and wintering grounds.

In their arduous journey, these pigeon-size birds arrive in large numbers during October in Nagaland and Manipur besides few other places in Northeast India and left the region in November after eating enough food for non-stop flight to Africa. Amur facon which mainly feeds on flying termites and insects takes around five days non-stop journey from Northeast India to Africa.

WII scientist also lauded the activities of the people in Tamenglong and Noney for their tireless effort for taking up certain conservation activities of the wildlife in the region.
On Wednesday, Manipur Forest Minister Th Shyamkumar appealed all to come forward in conserving, protecting and spreading awareness regarding the migratory birds.

He lauded the locals of Tamenglong and Noney districts for voluntary surrendering their air guns as part of the conservation process of the Amur Falcon.
The Rainforest club Tamenglong and forest authorities have been organising Amur Falcon festival since 2015 to protect the bird during their stay in Manipur districts.