The much-anticipated arrival of the migratory Amur Falcons has started in the Dima Hasao district’s New Tumbung area, which is located beneath Umrongso’s Garampani forest range. Due to their arrival, the District Magistrate has placed limitations in the bird roosting locations under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023 (previously Section 144 CrPC), which forbids any act of catching or killing the birds. Strict legal action against violators is another warning in the decree.
For bird watchers and wildlife enthusiasts in the area, the first sighting of a flock of Ruddy Shelducks and Seagulls at the NEEPCO water reservoir near the Amur Falcon roosting spot has added to the excitement. Forest staff have increased their patrols in the region to ensure 24-hour protection and stop any efforts at poaching. In the meantime, tourists, ornithologists, and bird enthusiasts are swarming the location to take in the spectacle of these avian guests.
At the Umrongso roosting location, a group from the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, under the direction of Chief Executive Member Debolal Gorlosa, formally welcomed the migratory visitors and arranged a bird conservation awareness meeting. In the past, these birds were often killed for sport and meat due to ignorance. However, these activities have been successfully restricted after ongoing awareness efforts started by the Forest Department, NGOs, and social activists, guaranteeing the falcons’ safe passage through the area.
Southeast Siberia and northern China are the breeding grounds for Amur Falcons, which are tiny raptors of the falcon family. During the winter, they migrate in big groups, traveling through India and the Arabian Sea to South Africa. During their lengthy transcontinental trek, Umrongso is a crucial stopover. Amur Falcons are dark grey males with orange eye rings and feet, reddish-brown thighs, and under-tail coverts. The females are duller, with a faint rufous wash on the thighs and undertail and black, scaly patterns on their whitish underparts.