The hunters-turned-bird lovers waiting at the lakeside in Pangti village early morning cheered with joy when two radio-tagged Amur Falcons appeared on the horizon of Doyang Lake after two years, unleashing hope that the bird hasn’t given up despite being hunted for what it was. Migratory birds created awareness among the residents of Pangti village, who had vowed to protect, shelter and care for the longest travelling birds Amur Falcons, in the region of Doyang Lake in Nagaland.

Roosting Amur Falcons draws Javadekar to Nagaland:

Starting their journey from the Magnolia to South Africa via India, millions of Amur Falcons come to Doyang lake every year to rest making the place a delight to watch.

Three Amur Falcons were tagged with satellite device back in 2013 by researchers to observe migratory behaviour of the birds. Tracking of these birds was in progress since then, which resulted in a recent spotting of two of them back in the region. Of the three tagged ones, two birds named Naga and Pangti have returned home twice since then.

Both the birds started their journey from Mongolia and flew non-stop for five days, covering a distance of 5,600 km to reach Doyang lake in Nagaland. They were named after the village they belong.

Soon after getting the news of two tagged Amur Falcons returning to Nagaland, Union Environment minister Prakash Javadekar visited the Doyang Lake in Nagaland and take note of facilities which are existing in the region. He also vowed to supply funds for developing the lake as an eco-tourism spot. He announced that four to five birds would be tracked annually and they would be also named after the village they relate.

If reports to be believed then due to the campaign by wildlife activists, local people are so much motivated to protect the Amur Falcons that not a single hunting has been witnessed or reported in the past one year.