An Amur Falcon radio-tagged in Manipur last year has begun its long return journey to Siberia after spending 114 days in southern Africa, researchers have confirmed.
The bird, named ‘Chiuluan 2’, was tagged alongside another falcon, ‘Guangram’, by scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Manipur’s Tamenglong district in November 2024. The names commemorate two roosting villages in the region.
WII senior scientist Dr Suresh Kumar, who has been monitoring the migration, said, “Chiuluan 2 commenced its northward journey from Botswana on April 8.” The bird has since crossed Zimbabwe and Tanzania and is currently flying near the Kenya-Somalia border.
Chiuluan 2 had left Tamenglong on 8 November 2024, arriving in South Africa by 20 December after a remarkable non-stop flight. It then spent 46 days in Botswana’s Central Kalahari Reserve before heading back north.
“I expect Chiuluan 2 to begin its oceanic crossing in about 10 days,” Dr Kumar added, referring to the Arabian Sea passage. The bird’s journey back includes transit through Bangladesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra before entering East Africa.
The Amur Falcons, which make an annual migration of around 22,000 kilometres, are among the world’s longest-travelling birds. Their migration is a seasonal escape from Siberia’s harsh winters to more hospitable southern climes.
According to Tamenglong Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Kh Hitler Singh, “Amur Falcons bypass Tamenglong during their return journey to Siberia, heading directly to their breeding grounds along the Amur River.”
The second bird, Guangram, last transmitted satellite data from near Kenya in December 2024 and has since gone offline.
The tracking initiative aims to further understanding of the migratory behaviour of the Amur Falcon. After arriving in India during their southward migration, these birds rest and feed in Nagaland, Manipur and other northeastern states for about 45 days in preparation for their marathon flight.
Locally referred to as ‘Akhuaipuina’, the Amur Falcon symbolises endurance, with its astonishing 14,500km journey to its wintering grounds followed by the return leg northwards in April-May.
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