Doyang Lake in Nagaland, the roosting ground of the Amur falcon

Background

Amur falcons come to roost every year at Doyang lake in Nagaland during their flight from Mongolia to South Africa. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change records that Amur falcons are the longest travelling raptors in the world and come to Doyang every year in millions. The birds weigh just 150 grams and fly non-stop in five days from Mongolia to arrive in Nagaland. Pangti village in Nagaland has been recognised as the world's Amur Falcon capital, as more than one million birds can be seen there in just 30 minutes. Until recently Naga tribesmen used to hunt thousands of Amur falcons for meat, but after a campaign by wildlife activists they pledged to protect the bird. The Ministry describes the conservation of the Amur falcon as a success story achieved with people's participation, and announced that the Doyang Lake area would be developed as an eco-tourism spot for bird-watchers. Two falcons tagged with satellite tracking chips, named Naga and Pangti, made repeated journeys from Mongolia to South Africa via Nagaland.