A Marvellous Migration

The Doyang reservoir dazzled green under the late October afternoon sun. I stood at the edge of a hill, marvelling at one of the best natural history phenomena in the world.

- Prachi Galange

The space above the water was filled with shrill bird cries. I followed the flight path of a single bird soaring across the blue skies, as it merged with a million tiny dots in the sky, each one of them an Amur Falcon Falco amurensis! Come mid-November these small raptors would have travelled another 5,900 km. non-stop for five days. Their annual migration includes crossing the Indian Ocean to reach South Africa, a marvellous feat considering their size – they weigh a mere 150 grams!

Marathon In The Sky
Amur Falcons undertake one of the longest raptor migrations – a staggering 22,000 km. They fly from their breeding grounds in southeastern Siberia and northern China all the way to their wintering grounds in South Africa. After wintering for three to four months, the falcons journey back to their breeding grounds, which lie in the Amur river region, giving rise to their name.

Early Visits