Amur Falcons

Amur falcons are known to breed in southeast Russia and northern China and migrate west through India and across the Arabian Sea to southern Africa where they spend their winters, making a round-trip of at least 20,000 km every year, traveling between their breeding and wintering grounds.

• This arduous journey includes a non-stop flight over the Arabian Sea after passing across India.
• The resilient falcons arrive in large numbers, during October in Nagaland and a few other places in northeastern India.
• As tens of thousands of Amur falcons came to roost in Pangti on the way to South Africa, Somalia, and Kenya, they were targeted by local hunters. 
• Over thousands of the raptors were harvested every day for sale and consumption.

Amur falcon range map

• In 2012 an estimated 120,000 to 140,000 birds were trapped in nets and killed while passing through a remote part of the Indian Nagaland region. 
• This prompted a swift response from the Indian Government and the Nagaland Forest Department, which used patrols and education initiatives for villagers as a means to halt trapping. In 2013, no falcons were trapped.
• The Amur Falcon exemplifies the threat of illegal trapping and killing during migration, which harms countless bird species each year. 
• Besides this, the birds are prone to habitat loss from agricultural practices and land reclamation. 
• Only international cooperation from organisations and governments working together will help preserve these species as they become increasingly vulnerable.