Irang and Chiulon heading south
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 29 2020:
The radio tagged Amur falcons named Irang and Chiulon have left their breeding grounds at China and Russia and are heading towards south to avoid the cold of winter, according to Wildlife Institute of India.
Chiulon, named after a village in Tamenglong district and four other falcons namely Puching, Phalong-both names of villages in Tamenglong district, Irang and Barak - both names of rivers of the district, were radio tagged with satellite transmitters last year by the Forest Department in collaboration with Wildlife Institute of India scientists to study the flight route of these long-distance migratory birds and environmental patterns along the route.
Chiulon, Irang and Barak had reached South Africa last year.
Irang and Chiulon left their breeding area in northern China and Russia on September 14 and are heading south.
The two birds are now at the northern side of Beijing.
However, no signal from Barak has been received yet.
Barak when returning from South Africa last year met with cyclone Amphan and again in Bangladesh met with a thunderstorm following which the signal was lost.
The birds might reach Tamenglong district in the second week of next month.
They will stay there for a brief period and by the end of November month they will head for South Africa passing the Bay of Bengal and Arabian sea.
Tamenglong DFO Kh Hitler has appealed to the people to welcome the birds and treat them with love.