Facebook Twitter (X) Instagram Somali Magazine - People's Magazine
A satellite-tagged Amur Falcon, named Chiuluan2 after a village in Manipur’s Tamenglong district, has completed a non-stop migration from India to Somalia in just five days and 17 hours. This remarkable feat underscores the resilience and endurance of the world’s longest-traveling migratory birds.
The bird embarked on its journey from Guhagar in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district on Sunday morning at 10:30 AM IST and reached Somalia on Tuesday evening at 7:00 PM IST, according to R. Suresh Kumar, a scientist from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) monitoring its migration.
Studying the Migratory Path of Amur Falcons
The Chiuluan2 falcon was one of two Amur falcons radio-tagged earlier this month by a team from the Manipur Forest Department and WII. Another tagged falcon, Guangram, remains at its roosting site in Tamenglong. The tracking initiative aims to study the birds’ migratory patterns, flight paths, and the environmental challenges they face.
Kumar noted that Chiuluan2 was observed flying over Socotra Island, near the tip of the Horn of Africa, on Monday during its journey.
A Community Effort to Conserve Migratory Birds
The tagging and release of the falcons involved collaboration between the Manipur Forest Department, WII, and local communities. The birds were released on November 8 during a ceremony that included the release of nine other Amur falcons.
Amur falcons are small, pigeon-sized raptors protected under India’s Wildlife Protection Act. They migrate annually from their breeding grounds in southeast Russia and northeast China to wintering sites in Africa, covering up to 20,000 kilometers.
A Stopover in India’s Northeast
The falcons make a crucial stop in India’s northeastern states, including Manipur and Nagaland, during October and November. After feeding extensively to build up energy reserves, they undertake a non-stop flight across the Arabian Sea to Africa, where they spend the winter.
Locally known as Akhuaipuina, the falcons have become an integral part of community-led conservation efforts in Tamenglong. Initiatives like the annual Amur Falcon Festival raise awareness about the importance of preserving these remarkable migratory birds.
Ninth Amur Falcon Festival Held in Tamenglong
The ninth edition of the Amur Falcon Festival was celebrated on November 21, highlighting the commitment of local residents and authorities to the protection of these migratory birds.