Amur Falcon

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The Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) is a small falcon raptor. It breeds in southern Siberia and northern China before migrating in large groups across India and the Arabian Sea to spend the winter in Southern and East Africa. Stopover sites are essential for the Amur Falcons to maintain stamina due to the long journey.

This topic of “Amur Falcon” is important from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination, which falls under General Studies Portion.

Threats

• The Amur Falcon is an example of the threat posed by illegal trapping and killing during migration, which affects countless bird species each year.
  • An estimated 120,000 to 140,000 birds were caught in nets and killed in 2012 while passing through a remote area of India’s Nagaland region.
  • The Indian government and the Nagaland Forest Department responded quickly, using patrols and education initiatives for villagers to put an end to trapping. No falcons were captured in 2013.
• Aside from that, the birds are vulnerable to habitat loss as a result of agricultural practises and land reclamation.

Only international cooperation between organisations and governments will help preserve these species as they become increasingly vulnerable.

Quick Facts

• Scientific Name: Falco amurensis
• IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern
• Breeds in Russia’s far east and northern China.
• Migrates from India to Southern Africa via the Arabian Sea.
• Feeds on dragonflies that migrate over the Arabian Sea in a similar fashion.
• 22,000-kilometer journey (longest sea crossing of any raptor).
• Flyway: East-Asian Australasian and African Eurasian
• Population of more than 1,000,000 breeding individuals