By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 22: Umroi village will host this year’s Amur Falcon Festival from November 7 to 9, marking the first time the festival will take place in Umroi, having been held in Tyrso village since its inception in 2015. The festival is jointly organised by the Tyrso Valley Wildlife Protection Society (TVWPS) and the Eastern Ri Bhoi Tourism Environment Development Authority (ERBTEDA).
Speaking to reporters, ERBTEDA chairman Alos Nongpoh stated that the festival is held annually to raise awareness about the conservation of the Amur Falcon, a migratory raptor, and to discourage their hunting. He also highlighted the festival’s role in promoting tourism in Ri-Bhoi.
Through this mega event, the organisers aim to showcase the thousands of Amur Falcons that visit these two villages each year, positioning the area as a key tourist destination in Meghalaya. Nongpoh encouraged residents and tourists alike to attend the festival and witness the spectacle of these magnificent birds.
Amur Falcons are migratory birds that travel from Siberia through Northeast India en route to their final destinations in Somalia, Kenya, and South Africa. They undertake one of the longest migration journeys in the avian world, covering up to 22,000 km annually.
The falcons flock to Umru and Tyrso villages in Ri-Bhoi district during their migration in October and November, before continuing to Nagaland. Notably, these birds are known for their ability to migrate over vast ocean distances and travel during the night.
