Satellite tagging of Amur Falcons in Nagaland

Migratory Amur Falcons in Nagaland have been fitted with satellite tags to monitor their movement for their conservation.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and other environment agencies along with the Nagaland Forest Department have taken up the joint scientific mission to satellite tag the raptors, Nagaland Principal Chief Conservator of Forests M Lokeswara Rao told PTI.
Along with the other environment partners, United Nations Environment Programme/Convention on Migratory Species Office - Abu Dhabi, the mission in Nagaland's Doyang area of Wokha aims to provide new insights into the ecology of the Amur Falcon, particularly during its short stay in Nagaland and subsequent traverse across India.

It should also provide the Nagaland people with knowledge about the origins of their annual falcon visitors which spend about one month at Doyang every autumn and feast on insects to gain fitness for their immense onward journey to Africa, Rao said.
On November 6, he said three Amur Falcon birds named as Naga, Wokha and Pangti were satellite tagged and released. The three birds were fitted with satellite tag with antenna and solar panel weighing 5 gram on their back.
Male 'Naga' has Color Ring number KAM, Ring Number C56801; female 'Wokha' Color Ring Number KCM, Ring Number C56802 and another female 'Pangti' has Color Ring Number KFM, Ring Number C56803.

Apart from these three, another 28 birds were tagged with rings and released.
The satellite tagged birds' migration will be monitored through satellite with a website in Hungary recording every detail about their movement, the PCCF said.