Image of 5th Edition of Falcon Festival 2019
Haflong, November 16, 2020: In a bid to boost tourism in Dima Hasao district, the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council in collaboration with Dima Hasao Tourist department, Dima Hasao Forest department, District Information & public relation department, Falcon Festival Organizing Committee, Blue Hills society(NGO) and Haplou (NGO) is organizing the six edition of the Falcon festival on 21st and 22nd of November at Golf Course near Tumbung village at Umrongso in Assam’s Dima Hasao district.
The two day festival aims at creating awareness about Amur falcons (Falco amurensis), the longest travelling migratory birds that roost in large flocks during the last week of October and in November every year.
Hundreds of birds lovers from various part of the state have started thronging Tumbung village and tourists are also seen camping at the golf course since the Amur falcons began arriving.
Earlier, due to lack of awareness, these migratory birds were killed for sport, fun and meat.
The killings stopped after awareness campaigns were launched by the forest department, NGOs and social activists on providing safe passage to the migratory birds.
The forest department has deployed its staff in the roosting area for round-the-clock vigil to provide safety to the birds.
The two days festival will host beat contest for local bands, beauty pageant and cultural programs displaying the tribes living in Dima Hasao district. The festival will also organize a competition for school students, however this year due to Covid pandemic the said programs will only be participates by locals.
The fest will include ethnic stalls displaying tribal attire and ornaments. During the festival one can also enjoy unique and lip smacking tribal cuisines.
Inside the fest area, plastic material such as glass, plates etc. will not be allowed and the organization has also encourage to use bio-degradable material and the locals who have been promoting bio- degradable material will be awarded.
Amur falcon, a small raptor of the falcon family, breeds in south-eastern Siberia and northern China and migrates in large flocks in winter across India and over the Arabian Sea to South Africa. These migratory birds from Siberia and China stop at Umrongso during their annual journey to South Africa.
The males are dark grey with reddish brown thighs and under-tail coverts, reddish orange eye-ring and feet. Females are duller above, with dark scaly markings on white underparts, an orange eye ring and legs. Only a pale wash of rufous is visible on their thighs and undertail coverts.
Their diet mainly comrpises insects, such as termites. During their migratory period over the sea, they are believe to feed on migrating dragonflies.
0 Comments