Dimapur, April 29 (MExN): Updating on the Amur falcons that were satellite-tagged in Nagaland, it has been reported that Pangti is inactive, while Naga is about to complete third cycle, flying over Gujarat.
M Lokeswara Rao (IFS), Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force in a press release said no signals have been received from the satellite tag of Pangti. “Pangti completed two cycles covering a distance of 40000 KM. Naga is about to complete third cycle about to cover a distance of 60000 KM. Wokha is inactive from the beginning. At present, Naga is about to complete third cycle, flying over Gujarat,” he said.
On November 7, 2013, three Amur Falcon birds were satellite tagged and released. The birds were named as Naga, Wokha and Pangti. Naga has Colour Ring Number KAM, Ring Number C56801, and is male; Wokha has Color Ring Number KCM, Ring Number C56802, and is female; Pangti has Color Ring Number KFM, Ring Number C56803, and is female. The three birds were fitted with satellite tag with antenna and solar panel on the back. The satellite tag weighs only 5 grams, the release informed.
The birds were released from Doyang in Wokha to go to South Africa after crossing difficult journey over Arabian Sea. Amur falcons spend winter in South Africa. After spending three months in South Africa, they start back journey to the breeding site in Mongolia.
The tagging was a joint mission undertaken at Pangti village in Wokha district by two leading scientists from MME/BirdLife Hungary, Peter Fehervani and Szabolcs Soil; Nick Williams, Programme Officer - Birds of Prey (Raptors), Convention on Migratory Species Office, Abu Dhabi, United Nations Environment Programme; R. Suresh, a scientist from the Wildlife Institute of India; and the Nagaland Forest Department. Pangti villagers helped the scientists in trapping the falcons and fitting the satellite tags, it was stated.
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