Ri Bhoi to host Amur Falcon Festival on November 12-13

SHILLONG:

The Tyrso Valley Wildlife Protection Society in collaboration with the Them Tyrso Women Welfare Association will host the Amur Falcon Festival 2021 at Umru village in Ri Bhoi from November 12 to 13.

Speaking to the press, Tyrso Valley Wildlife Protection Society General Secretary Alos Nongpoh, informed that the Festival is held every year to create awareness about the migratory birds, urging people to conserve them, and offer them a safe habitat.

Urging people from the state and other tourists to attend the festival, Nongpoh said that the festival will allow the public to witness the beautiful birds in all their grandeur.

Notably, Umru village, located approximately 35 kilometers from Shillong By-pass under Bhoirymbong C&RD Block in Ri Bhoi district, is one of the places where the falcons halt at, before migrating to their final destination Nagaland from where they return to native regions.

Amur Falcon, the migratory bird originally from South Africa, arrives in Northeast India from Siberia en route to their final destination Somalia, Kenya and South Africa. These little raptors cover a distance of 22,000 kilometres in a year during their migration.

Reports suggest that these birds arrive in Ri Bhoi during the month of October-November every year migrating through many places. They also continue their journey at night, an unusual phenomenon seen among the species.

Meanwhile, the Nagaland government has declared the state as the capital of Amur Falcon, given the fact that the state serves to be its final destination before they fly back to their native regions.

Nongpoh informed that government officials from the tourism department and other departments will also attend the festival during the two days.

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