Amur falcons en route to Africa excite Goan birders

Panaji: The Amur, which is named after its breeding place Amurland in south east Siberia, and also breeds in northern China and other regions, is greatly admired for its grueling flight to south and east Africa during winter.“Like a nature’s wonder, the dragon flies appear on plateaus just as the raptors arrive. Feeding on them fortifies the birds to cross the Arabian Sea,” Justino Rebello, a Verna-based birder said.In 2012, thousands of falcons were massacred for food by locals in Pangti, Nagaland. The carnage shocked the world but later a successful conservation project elicited praise for the village.Chawla, who spotted the raptor with Parab stated that the Sirlim grasslands and mangroves near the Sal river are rich in both flora and fauna, including grasses. “They are critical to the health of the Sirlim-Chinchinim landscape. Raptors being at the top of the food chain as predators indicate that this ecosystem here is healthy,” she said.Considering the birds’ migration route and the distance travelled, Goa is an important stopover for them along the west coast, Parab stated.The grasslands, open fallow fields adjoining khazans and lateritic plateaus are vital habitats for the avifauna. “These habitats should be conserved, as they are important feeding grounds for these birds,” he said.