Kohima: November 7 has now become a historic day for the people of Nagaland, especially the local communities, whose efforts to protect the Amur Falcon in what is termed the biggest such conservation movement through satellite tagging of the species, has been amply rewarded after international scientists declared Doyang in Nagaland as one of the biggest congregation of nearly one million Amur Falcon and have declared Nagaland as the ‘Falcon Capital of the World’.
A press release issued by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of the Forest Force M Lokeswara Rao on Thursday informed that on November 7 last, three Amur Falcon birds were satellite tagged and released.
The birds are names as Naga, Wokha and Pangti. The Naga bird has Colour Ring Number KAM, Ring Number C56801, which is male, Wokha bird has Colour Ring Number KCM, Ring Number C56802, which is female, and Pangti bird has Colour Ring Number KFM, Ring Number C56803, which is female.
These three birds were fitted with satellite tag with antenna and with solar panel on the back of the bird. The satellite tag weighs only 5 grams.
Two of the tagged birds were released by Lokeswara Rao, Dr Suresh Kumar, Wildlife institute of India, Dehradun and Dr Nick Williams, Programme Officer – Birds of Prey (Raptors), Convention on Migratory Species Office Abu Dhabi, United Nations Environment Programme.
The third bird was released by the Pangti village people.
The satellite tag birds migration will be monitored through satellite through website in Hungary every details will be known through the website the movement of the tagged birds.
“Every one may be wondering where these birds are flying to as per the satellite tracking, but where our Nagaland birds are flying.
“As per the satellite tracking of Amur Falcon from November 7-14, 2013, the Naga bird (male) started its journey by flying over Bangladesh and over Bay of Bengal and entering Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and now flying over Arabian sea.
The Pangti (female) started its journey by flying over Bangladesh and over Bay of Bengal, entering Andhra Pradesh (Hyderabad) and Maharashtra and now flying over Arabian Sea.
The Wokha bird (female) started its journey by flying over Bangladesh and enter over Bay of Bengal. Out of all three birds the Naga bird is ahead of all, second Pangti and third Wokha, which is far behind the other two.
This is the first time the Amur Falcons were satellite tagged and released and Nagaland has entered in international map in the conservation movement. “Nagaland is falcon capital of the World according to visiting ornithologists. Like we have natural heritage of Tigers and Rhinos, we have natural heritage of Amur Falcons it is our duty to preserve this natural heritage,” the PCCF said. (UNI)