The Amur Falcon exemplifies the threat of illegal trapping and killing during migration, which harms countless bird species each year. He mentions that Nagaland is known for million Amur falcons coming to the state each year and that is why it is also known as the Amur faclon capital of the world. They migrate in a broad front through India and Sri Lanka, sometimes further east over Thailand and Cambodia and then over the Arabian Sea, sometimes in passage on the Maldives and other islands to reach southern Africa. The Amur Falcon is a fascinating migratory raptor. It was a jaw-dropping tale, with reports of over 100,000 birds seen at a time at the newly created Doyang Reservoir. NEW FLYER - English French Spanish NEW QUIZ - English French Spanish. Satellite-tagged Amur Falcons fly 30,000 km. Map courtesy of IUCN, BirdLife International and the Handbook of Birds of the World 2016, This site is maintained by the UNEP/CMS Secretariat and UNEP/AEWA Secretariat © 2006 - 2019 Disclaimer | Impressum [9] The route taken to return to their breeding grounds runs slightly more northward. During their migration from their breeding area to the winter quarters, they are plump and are hunted for food in parts of northeastern India as well as in eastern Africa. Cover the key birding sites in the Khonoma area, the Naga Hills and foothills of the Patkai range on our three-center tour. In Africa, males can be confused with melanistic Gabar goshawks, but the chestnut on the vent is distinctive. [8][2], The Amur falcon feeds mainly late in the evening or early in the morning capturing a wide range of insects in the air or on the ground. UNEP/CMS and UNEP/AEWA Secretariat | Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany | Tel. Naga started his return migration on March 21 from Botswana, while Pangti started on April 3 from South Africa and within a span of 16 and 20 days both the birds arrived in Somalia. Also, there may be some superficial resemblance to the sooty falcon and the grey kestrel, but those two species both have yellow feet and cere. 22,000 km journey (longest sea crossing of any raptor), Flyway: East-Asian Australasian and African Eurasian, Population of more than 1,000,000 breeding individuals. [13][14], During migration they stay in open forest or grasslands, roosting colonially on exposed perches or wires. Abu Dhabi, 10 November 2020 - In October each year, communities in the mountainous parts of Northeast India, gather in anticipation of the arrival of a small grey bird, the Amur Falcon, which annually migrates over 30,000 km. Amur Falcons are a little bit a little bit smaller, excuse me a little bit bigger than an American Kestrel. The Amur Falcons are birds of prey, about 28-31cm and weigh around 100 grams. [17] As part of this campaign, three birds were fitted with 5 gm satellite transmitters that allowed them to be tracked during their migration.[18]. Migrates west through India and across the Arabian Sea to Southern Africa. During their migration, they stop to rest and feed in parts of northeast India. The flocking behaviour during migration and the density at which they occur, however, expose them to hunting and other threats. [12] Their migration over the Arabian Sea coincides with the timing of the migration of dragonflies (Pantala flavescens) and these are thought to provide food during the most arduous part of their migration route. With the beginning of winter Amur Falcons (Falco Amurensis) flock in large numbers across northeast India, which acts as a stop-over ground in the bird’s annual migration path. Visit one of India’s least-explored corners at its easternmost extension near the Myanmar border. In 2012 an estimated 120,000 to 140,000 birds were trapped in nets and killed while passing through a remote part of the Indian Nagaland region. The Amur Falcon’s arrival has sparked excitement and joy within these communities, who not long ago, were hunting the species. They undertake the longest regular over-water migration of any bird of prey, crossing over the Indian Ocean between western India and tropical east Africa, a journey of more than 4,000 km. The Amur falcon was long considered a subspecies or morph of the red-footed falcon, but it is nowadays considered distinct. This is a lifetime experience. (+49 228) 815 2454, Fax. The migration route also coincides with the migration of dragonfly which is the food source for Amur Falcon mid-air during the arduous journey. [8], The Amur falcon hosts three species of lice, Degeeriella rufa, Colpocephalum subzerafae, and Laembothrion tinnunculi. Amur falcons travel up to 22,000 km in a year, this being one of the longest migration routes of all birds The Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) is a complete, long distance, trans-equatorial migrant. In 2013, no falcons were trapped. To fuel up for their big open-water crossing, Amur Falcons stop over in Nagaland to feast on a seasonal eruption of trillions of termites from their underground colonies. These winds are strong at an altitude of about 3000m and the birds are thought to fly at a height of above 1000m during migration. Birds going over India are thought to be aided by strong winds blowing westward. Females can be more difficult to identify as they share a pattern common to many falcons, but are distinctive in having an orange eye-ring, a red cere and reddish orange feet. Chris Emerick Recommended for you. Only international cooperation from organizations and governments working together will help preserve these species as they become increasingly vulnerable. In 2012, mass trapping and capture of migrating Amur falcons in Nagaland (India) was reported in the media and a successful campaign was begun to prevent their killing. In 10 days spanning the peak migration season, this amounted to a staggering 120,000 to 140,000 Amur falcons slaughtered around the Doyang reservoir alone. Feeds on dragonflies that follow a similar migration path over Arabian Sea. the Amur Falcon has one of the longest migration routes of any ... between 2,364 and 3,138km, the duration of migration between 44 - 80 hours (up to more than three days). Duration 0:58:46 Seminar Series. ; The raptors breed in southeastern Siberia and northern China, and migrate in millions across India and then over the Indian Ocean to southern Africa before returning to Mongolia and Siberia. (+49 228) 815 2450 |. The Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) is a small raptor of the falcon family. Because of its tendency to wander long distances over the ocean while migrating, this falcon has been found in locations far outside its normal range, such as in Italy, Sweden, Tristan da Cunha, St. Helena and the United Kingdom. Both parents take turns to incubate and feed the chicks which hatch after about a month. Adult males of the closely related red-footed falcon have a dark grey wing lining. Sir — Given that World Migratory Birds Day was just a few days ago, it was fitting to read that, according to the findings of the Wildlife Institute of India, Amur falcons — the long-distance migratory birds that are known to have one of the longest migration routes, covering around 22,000 kilometres — have started arriving here. Birds going over India are thought to be aided by strong winds blowing westward. Observe the largest single raptor species migration in the world. Amur falcon feeding mechanism : The Amur falcons feed mostly on insects, mainly mid-air. Amur falcons, the world’s longest travelling raptors start travelling with the onset of winters. Because of the long journey, stopover sites are important for Amur Falcons to maintain stamina. Two satellite-tagged Amur Falcons have been tracked on their migration route, clocking up some 29,000 km in the process. The Amur Falcon has one of the longest raptor migrations, but is also unique because it supposedly flies a long distance over the sea. The … The rains in Africa produce swarms of termites, locusts, ants and beetles that provide ample food. [15], The wide breeding range and large population size of the Amur falcon have led to the species being assessed as being of least concern. [6] The species name amurensis is from Amurland in south-eastern Siberia. Nonetheless, it is the red-footed falcon's closest relative; their relationship to other falcons is more enigmatic. Nagaland is India’s most remote state, opened only recently to outsiders. Every year thousands of Amur falcons descend upon this remote corner of Nagaland. The Amur falcon has a large range with a stable population and is noteworthy for undertaking one of the most arduous annual migrations of any bird of prey. For birds who travel such great distance to survive, anything … A case for protecting the Amur falcon, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amur_falcon&oldid=963726860, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 21 June 2020, at 13:03. Amur Falcons Nagaland Expedition by Bruce Evans - Duration: 1:26. Migration and Poaching . The Amur falcon breeds in east Asia from the Transbaikalia, Amurland, and northern Mongolian region to parts of North Korea. They appear morphologically somewhat intermediate between kestrels and hobbies and DNA sequence data has been unable to further resolve this question, mainly due to lack of comprehensive sampling. He said they were captured and tagged on October 1, 2019, at Puching village, some 100 km from the state capital Imphal, in Tamenglong district. Every year, the small, resilient birds make the daring voyage from breeding grounds in Russia and China to winter in southern Africa. Migration trail The long distance trans-equitorial migrant species sets out for the lengthy flight from north-eastern Siberia. [8] Their breeding habitat is open wooded country with marshes. It was believed that they flew mostly over land during their return journey, but data from Bernd has shown that they fly a distance 2,500 to 3,100km over the sea in spring and do this by flying non-stop for between 2 and 3 days. 3:25. They migrate in a broad front through India and Sri Lanka, sometimes further east over Thailand and Cambodia and then over the Arabian Sea, sometimes in passage on the Maldives and other islands to reach southern Africa. In flight, the wing lining is white, contrasting with the dark wing feathers. They returned to the same spot where they had arrived on their south-bound autumn passage. Based on his tweet, the Amur Falcon covers a total of 22,000 km by flying. Using monsoon winds for flight: The bird is also known to have adapted and follow the north-east monsoon tailwinds which blow … They capture most of their prey in flight, sometimes by hovering, but will also pick prey by alighting on the ground. Amur falcons are known to cover one of the longest migration routes among all birds. ... Harney county bird migration - Duration: 3:25. Flying thousands of kilometres from their breeding grounds in northern China and eastern Mongolia, nearly a million Amur falcons - a small grey bird of prey - regularly descend across northeast India for nearly a month in October, to feed and rest before continuing their journey to southern Africa. The Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) is a trans-equatorial, long-distance migrant that moves from its breeding grounds in Mongolia, the south Russian Far East, northeast China and North Korea, all the way to its wintering grounds in southern Africa and back, every year! They’re a largely insectivorous falcon. Their migration to Africa coincides with the time when due to rains swarm of insects will be everywhere, making South Africa a great feeding ground. One of the birds, a female named Irang, flew more than 29,000 km while the other, a male called Chiulon, … The breeding season is May to June and several pairs may nest close together. So far it has radio-tagged about 15 Amur falcons to study migration pathways and environmental patterns. (+49 228) 815 2454, Fax. New Delhi: Flying thousands of kilometres from their breeding grounds in northern China and eastern Mongolia, nearly a million Amur falcons, a small grey bird of prey, regularly descend across northeast India for nearly a month in October to feed and rest before continuing their journey to southern Africa. The young birds leave the nest after about a month. Besides this, the birds are prone to habitat loss from agricultural practices and land reclamation. Every year, huge flocks of them fly south, from North China, Siberia and Russia (where they breed) to southern Africa for the winter. Chiulan is a male Amur that arrived in Somalia yesterday and Irang is a female Amur and may have also arrived in Somalia now," Suresh Kumar, one of the key researchers, told IANS on Tuesday. Every year, the small, resilient birds make the daring voyage from breeding grounds in Russia and China to winter in southern Africa. The birds were two of five fitted with the tags in Manipur, eastern India, which is a popular stopover site for the falcon while on migration. Breeds in South-east Russia and northern China. It is supposed that the falcons cross the Arabian Sea during their migration, but much is still unknown about the patterns of their estimated 22,000 km migration. These winds are strong at an altitude of about 3000m and the birds are thought to fl… Be a part of this amazing conservation story. The Amur falcon is protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. At just 150 grams, an Amur falcon, Falco amurensis is a small bird, the male mostly grey in colour, and the females having dark-streaked cream or orange underparts. It undertakes a migration journey from this region all the way to Southern Africa where they spend the winter and then returns to Siberia. The average speed It is believed to be possibly the biggest falcon roosts in the world. Wink, Michael; Seibold, I.; Lotfikhah, F. & Bednarek, W. (1998): Molecular systematics of holarctic raptors (Order Falconiformes), "Phylogeny of the Falconidae inferred from molecular and morphological data", "Passage records of Amur Falcon Falco amurensis from SE Asia and southern Africa including first records from Ethiopia", "Do dragonflies migrate across the western Indian Ocean? Abandoned nest platforms belonging to birds of prey or corvids and even tree hollows are re-used for nesting. Witness the spectacular migration of Amur Falcons in Nagaland as they arrive end of October till early November in thousands from Sibera & northern China before taking off for Africa. Up to a million Amur Falcon come through this area in a 10-day period each year. Another satellite-tagged female Amur falcon named ‘Longleng’ released on October 30, 2016 from Nagaland, has been sending messages at regular intervals even now. Along the way, they fly 2,400 miles across the Indian Ocean. The Amur Falcon is a fascinating migratory raptor. ", "Louse (Insecta: Phthiraptera) infestations of the Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) and the Red-footed Falcon", "Safe Passage For Amur Falcons Through India", How to make 2.5 billion termites disappear? Sheltered by hills that are steep and surrounded by water, the falcons roost here for about a month, foraging on insects, and building their body mass so they can fly across the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean into Africa. [7], The Amur falcon breeds in east Asia from the Transbaikalia, Amurland, and northern Mongolian region to parts of North Korea. It breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China before migrating in large flocks across India and over the Arabian Sea to winter in Southern Africa, Males are characteristically dark sooty grey above with rufous thighs and vent. This stage of their migration is the most amazing for me; an Amur Falcon will leave the east coast of Africa and fly non-stop, covering almost 3000km over the Indian Ocean in roughly 60 hours. Amur falcons, capable of flying the longest distances in one go, have begun to arrive in Manipur’s Tamenglong district following their routine annual migration course, officials said on Thursday. The story of the incredible Amur Falcon migration stopover in Nagaland, India, broke to international news in 2012. Northeast: Amur Falcon Mega Migration and More. On his way to school this October, 13-year-old Seiminlen saw a ngeikang.He told the school’s eco-club that the first Amur falcon of the season had been spotted. [3][4][5], The genus name Falco is Late Latin and derives from falx, falcis, a sickle, referencing the claws of the bird. Amur Falcons migrate from breeding grounds in eastern Asia to wintering grounds in southern Africa. Three or four eggs are laid (at two day intervals). It is supposed that the falcons cross the Arabian Sea during their migration, but much is still unknown about the patterns of their estimated 22,000 km migration. [1][16] Amur falcons are known to have among the longest migration routes, covering 22,000km. ... it’s relatively lightly populated and every year millions of Amur Falcons gather there on their migration. This prompted a swift response from the Indian Government and the Nagaland Forest Department, which used patrols and education initiatives for villagers as a means to halt trapping. (+49 228) 815 2450 | Contact, This site is maintained by the UNEP/CMS Secretariat and UNEP/AEWA Secretariat © 2006 - 2019 Disclaimer | Impressum, UNEP/CMS and UNEP/AEWA Secretariat | Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany | Tel. The wings are long as in most falcons (with a span of 63–71 cm) and at rest the wing tip reaches or extends just beyond the tail-tip.[2]. Naga, Pangati and Wokha. 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