GUWAHATI: Amur falcons — the longest-travelling migratory birds in the world — have returned to the northeast and people will be able to have a glimpse of them at the two-day-long Falcon Festival in Umrongso in Dima Hasao district from November 21.
These migratory birds travel from Siberia and China and halt at Umrongso during their annual journey to South Africa. Amur falcons are pigeon-sized migratory birds originating in Siberia where they breed in the summer. At the onset of winter, they fly to India, especially to the northeast, where they rest for about two months before leaving for South Africa where they stay for about four months.
Last year, around 10,000 people visited the festival. However, organizers are taking it slow this time and said the festival will be organized in a staggered manner as Covid-19 protocols have to be adhered to.
President of Falcon Festival Celebration Committee, 2020, Joshringdao Phonglo, told TOI that the festival has been organized in collaboration with different non-governmental organizations in a bid to boost tourism in the district. “We are organizing the sixth edition of the Falcon festival on November 21 and 22 at the Golf Course near Tumbung village at Umrongso. The two-day festival aims at creating awareness about Amur falcons (Falco amurensis) that roost in large flocks during the last week of October and in November every year,” Phonglo said.
He added that hundreds of bird lovers from various parts of the state have started visiting Tumbung village and tourists are also seen camping at the golf course since the Amur falcons have started arriving.
Speaking about how things have changed over the years, a resident of the area said, “Earlier, due to lack of awareness, these migratory birds were killed for sport, fun and its meat. The killings have, however, reduced significantly after awareness campaigns were launched by the forest department, NGOs and social activists on providing safe passage to the migratory birds.”
The forest department has deployed staff in the roosting area for round-the-clock vigil to provide safety to the birds. The two-day festival will host beat contests for local bands, beauty pageant and cultural programmes for tribes living in Dima Hasao district. The festival will also organize a competition for school students, but due to the pandemic, will only be participated by locals.
The organizers said the fest will showcase ethnic stalls displaying tribal attire and ornaments and visitors can also enjoy lip-smacking tribal cuisines.