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.
