Northeast Desk, 11th November: A significant group of Amur falcons has begun arriving in various parts of Northeast India, including Manipur during the weeklong birding event in India. The locals in the Zeliangrong-Naga dominated Tamenglong district headquarters, about 155 km from Imphal, noted a slightly lower number of these migratory birds compared to previous years.
Wildlife Explorer Manipur (WEM), with the support of Rainforest Club Tamenglong (RCT) volunteers and forest staff, conducted a census at three roosting sites of the falcons in the dense jungles of Chuilon along the banks of the Barak River. They utilized various tools such as drones, GPS devices, and telephoto cameras for the census task.
The census figures for the raptors will be calculated after tallying the recorded numbers from the electronic gadgets at the three roosting sites. However, due to poor internet service in the district, the tabulation couldn’t be immediately completed, mentioned WEM secretary Elangbam Premjit Singh.
Amandeep, the Divisional Forest Officer of Tamenglong and the brainchild behind the census exercise, expressed that this task would greatly aid in studying the migratory patterns and contribute to conservation efforts for these beautiful birds.
Before the census program, WEM experts conducted a short-term training course on bird census for RCT volunteers and village volunteers at the Tamenglong district headquarters, as mentioned by Amandeep. Additionally, awareness programs are being conducted by the division and RCT to encourage villagers to cherish and protect the falcons during their migratory period in Tamenglong.
Just as in previous years, the Amur falcons arrived in Manipur, predominantly in Tamenglong and neighboring Nagaland around mid-October from their breeding areas in Southeastern Siberia and Northern China. After roosting for approximately a month, these falcons, locally known as Akhoipuina or Kahoipuina in the Rongmei dialect, will head towards the Southern and Eastern parts of Africa before returning to their breeding grounds.
Premjit noted that 11 members of the NGO conducted the census at three different roosting sites in Chuilon village. They utilized drones, GPS devices, and telephoto cameras to record bird numbers, with multiple groups conducting the task simultaneously.
The WEM team leading the census program is headed by Kh Brajeshkumar, who is also a member of the Indian Bird Conservation Network (IBCN). Additionally, two team members have received training from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
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