Satellite tag to track falcons on migratory route

Satellite tag to track falcons on migratory route
GUWAHATI, Nov 13, 2013, 01.13 AM IST

Nagaland has taken another step forward in conserving Amur falcon, a migratory bird species that makes the state its roosting ground in its migration route from eastern Russia and China to southern Africa.

"On November 6, three Amur falcons were satellite tagged and released. The birds were named Naga, Wokha and Pangti. Each of these birds was fitted with a satellite tag with an antenna and a solar panel on the back of the bird," Nagaland principal chief conservator of forest M Lokeswra Rao said.

The tagged birds' migration will be monitored from Hungary.

Rao said satellite tagging was an initiative of the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF), Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Abu Dhabi-based Convention on Migratory Species Office (CMS), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), MME/Bird Life Hungary, Hungarian Natural History Museum and Department of Forests, Ecology, Environment, and Wildlife, Government of Nagaland.

He said WII scientist R Suresh, CMS programme officer for raptors Nick Williams, Birdlife Hungary's scientists Peter Fehervani and Szabolcs Soil, all of whom have an experience in satellite tracking of falcons, were in Nagaland from November 3 to 7 to carry out the exercise.

Rao said the international team of ornithologists counted over 1 million Amur Falcons entering Wokha to roost earlier this week.

Williams, who is also the head of the coordinating unit of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MoU), said, "This is by far the largest and most spectacular roost of any species of falcon ever seen anywhere in the world. It represents a unique and irreplaceable part of the rich biodiversity of Nagaland."

In August this year, a local NGO, Natural Nagas, and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) signed a tripartite agreement with Pangti, Ashaa and Sungro village councils in Wokha district to help the state forest department protect the birds. Villagers were made aware of the conservation of Amur falcons and they pledged that they would not hunt the birds.

Rao said Pangti villagers helped the team trap the birds and then release them.

"This is remarkable that the same people, who once hunted the birds, have turned into conservationists. This is an example of how involving a community can help the conservation movement. Satellite tagging of Amur falcons has brought Nagaland in the international map for the conservation movement," Rao said.

Amur Falcon Partnership
Project title: Satellite Tracking of Amur Falcons – Nagaland, India

The main objectives of the project are:
a) To deploy modern technology in the form of lightweight satellite tags fitted to a small number of Amur Falcons trapped in Nagaland to track their amazing migration journeys;
b) To better understand the behaviour and ecology of the Amur Falcon during its presence in Nagaland, along the migration routes and in the wintering areas in Africa;
c) To utilise web-based tools to actively apply the information gained to raise awareness of the international importance of the Amur Falcon and to promote falcon conservation activities, particularly amongst local communities in Nagaland; and,
d) To demonstrate the value and effectiveness of international collaborative actions under the auspices of the CMS Raptors MoU to promote the conservation of migratory birds of prey.

Benefits
The key benefits expected from this project include:

• Enhanced knowledge of the behaviour and ecology of the Amur Falcon, particularly during its presence in Nagaland, along the migration flyway in and Africa.
• Engagement of local communities in falcon conservation by means of exciting and innovative opportunities to raise awareness of the Amur Falcon, including its amazing migration journey and the threats it faces.
• Promotion of the positive conservation activities being undertaken by the Government of India, at both national and state levels, with the support of non-governmental organisations.
• Increased survival of Amur Falcons by reducing the harvest of the species in Nagaland.
• Demonstration of the value and effectiveness of international collaborative actions under the auspices of the CMS Raptors MoU to promote the conservation of migratory birds of prey.

Sponsors
The project was jointly sponsored and supported by the following organisations – Wildlife Institute of India, Nagaland Forest Department, MME/BirdLife Hungary and the Coordinating Unit of the CMS Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey (Raptors MoU).

The migratory routes of all birds tagged with PTTs can be tracked at http://www.satellitetracking.eu/inds...check_144=144#

Please keep an eye out for further updates and news on Naga, Wokha and Pangti on this website.

Partners:
1. CMS Memorandum of Understanding for the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MoU)
2. Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
3. Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government of India
4. Department of Forests, Ecology, Environment and Wildlife, Government of Nagaland
5. MME/BirdLife Hungary
6. Hungarian Natural History Museum

Amur falcons have safe passage through Nagaland this year
PTI | Dec 1, 2013, 06.55 PM IST

NEW DELHI: It was not a bloody transit for Amur falcon, a migratory bird, through Nagaland this autumn, thanks to efforts by authorities and conservationists.

Following reports about killing of thousands of birds in the northeastern state during their brief stopover in their migration from Siberia to Africa, Nagaland forest department, people of the state, the central government and BirdLife International joined hands to ensure that there was no such incident this year.

"Last year, tens of thousands of migratory birds were illegally trapped and then taken to local markets alive, or killed and smoked, for sale as food... Not a single Amur falcon was trapped during the 2013 autumn migration," says conservationist Jim Lawrence in an article on the webpage of Birdlife International--a global partnership of organisations that aims to conserve birds, their habitats.

According to Birdlife International, there was complete peace for the birds at a reservoir at Doyang from where they were trapped or hunted down last year.

"They have now passed safely through northern India and continued their migration on to southern Africa," it said.

Assad Rahmani of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) said an estimated 100,000 falcons were killed last year.

Lawrence said preparation for the return of Amur Falcons to Nagaland this autumn has been comprehensive.

BNHS coordinated a widespread campaign of action that was implemented locally by Nagaland Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Trust.

Enthusiastically supporting the campaign, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had made a surprise visit to Doyang reservoir this November and appealed to all Nagas to "extend hospitality" towards their 'esteemed guests'- the Amur Falcons.

It is interesting to note that the Wokha amur falcon which was in Somalia a few days earlier has now come close to the Naga in Kenya. And the Pangti amur falcon has moved away from the Naga in Kenya and is now in Botswana.

The three Amur falcons which were trapped in Naga, Wokha and Pangti and realeased after radio collaring are now in Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa respectively. The latest positions and the track followed within Africa can be seen in this map. The Red dot denotes the position of the Naga Amur Falcon, the orange dot represents the position of the Amur falcon from Wokha and the yellow dot represents the Pangti Amur falcon.