Amur Falcon – Nagaland

Witness the spectacular migration of Amur Falcons in Nagaland as they arrive at the end of October till early November in thousands from Siberia before taking off for Africa. The effect is spectacular; the sky is thick with flying birds. It is thought to be one of the biggest-possibly the biggest-falcon roosts in the world. The Amur falcon is a fascinating bird. It is only the size of a pigeon, but it has one of the longest migratory paths in the bird kingdom, travelling up to 22,000 km a year. It also survives wholly on insects, making it a beneficial bird for farmers. It is also one of the most successful conservation stories of recent times. Till a few years ago, villagers had been hunting - or rather massacring- the birds for their meat. Green groups estimate that at least 120,000 birds were killed every year. Alarmed by these shocking numbers, local conservation agencies of Nagaland, the church and the villages of Pangti, Ashaa, and Sungro stepped in and launched a conservation and patrolling program called Friends of the Amur Falcon. Today hunting the Amur Falcon is a rare occurrence.

Itinerary