Amur Falcon Fest from tomorrow; bad roads cause for concern
SHILLONG: The Amur Falcon Festival scheduled for November 11-12 will be a treat for avid bird watchers as millions of these winged guests from Siberia could be spotted at Tryso Village in Ri Bhoi district.
The birds can be seen making their way to Umru, Sohphoh, Tyrso and other adjoining villages after travelling 22,000km. “Amur falcons have arrived in October and over 15,000 birds have arrived on their first trip here. There is a leader who leads them here and then goes back to get the other group,” Julius Dorphang, local MLA of Mawhati, said at a press conference on Wednesday.
Alos Nongpoh, secretary of Tyrso Valley Wildlife Protection Society, said the birds’ arrival has proved favourable for farmers here. “These birds are a farmer’s best friend as they feed on pests who would otherwise destroy our paddy fields. Flying foxes and rats do not come out of fear. They do not disturb the farmers’ produce,” he explained.
The birds’ arrival is announced in villages and residents are directed not to disturb the avians. “We formed the organisation as we found that people were trying to kill these birds, fish, etc. We had to organise six awareness programmes this year to make people aware,” said Nongpoh. According to Dorphang it will not only be a sight for avian wonders but to showcase different cultural treasures found in Mawhati and the neighbouring areas. “The main reason to hold the festival is our keenness to preserve and conserve wildlife and environment. The birds have been arriving here for the last three years,” he said.
The local MLA said though protecting these birds last year was difficult as people from different parts of Meghalaya come for hunting, this year the traditional heads are co-ordinating.
However, the sore point is the abysmal road condition, he said. “The main problem is the road and through the festival it is expected that people from the State and the country to watch the birds. There are over hundreds of tourists from UP, Goa, Kolkata already making a beeline to this place since October.”
The birds usually perch on bamboo trees and so more than 2,000 bamboos trees have been planted.
On the road dilemma faced by the people, Dorphang said it would take 70 km from Shillong to Mawhati, however, for a 9 km stretch, a Rs 5-crore scheme has been sanctioned. “But tourists are expected to visit the place despite the bad road condition,” he said.