As insectivores, Amur Falcons primarily feed on Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets), Isoptera (termites), Hemiptera (true bugs), Coleoptera (beetles) and Hymenoptera (wasps, bees). Isoptera dominates their diet, making them crucial for regulating termite populations, which can damage crops and plants.
By Salam Rajlakshmi
Every year, the northeastern states of India, particularly Manipur and Nagaland, welcome a cherished winter guest – the Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis). Locally known as “Akhuaipuina” in Tamenglong, Manipur, this diminutive bird of prey brings a blessing for farmers, maintaining the delicate balance of the ecosystem by controlling pest and insect populations.
As insectivores, Amur Falcons primarily feed on Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets), Isoptera (termites), Hemiptera (true bugs), Coleoptera (beetles) and Hymenoptera (wasps, bees).
Isoptera dominates their diet, making them crucial for regulating termite populations, which can damage crops and plants.
During October and November, Amur Falcons embark on an inter-continental journey from East China to South Africa, covering an astounding 22,000 km. Their route takes them via North East India (Nagaland and Manipur), across the Arabian Sea, and onward to Africa.
These falcons halt in North East India for a few weeks to build up fat reserves, taking advantage of the region’s optimal insect population. They snack on abundant insects, replenishing energy stores for the long journey ahead.
They stay in Manipur for a few weeks, go directly to Dandeli hills in Northern part of Goa, and halt for 10 days before going to Africa. Amurs were also sighted in Socorro plateau in north Goa as they snack on the caterpillar for protein.
In 2012, thousands of Amur Falcons were hunted in Pangti village, Nagaland, prompting swift government action. The conservation campaign, launched in 2016, aims to protect these winged visitors. The killing or possession of Amur Falcons is illegal under Section 50 and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Local communities in Manipur and Nagaland have joined forces to safeguard the Amur Falcon and its habitats. Initiatives include protecting roosting sites and raising awareness about the bird’s ecological significance.
Their role in agriculture
The diet of Amur falcons primarily consists of insects, though they occasionally hunt small animals like lizards, rodents, and birds. Their arrival in Tamenglong, Manipur, plays an important role in pest control, protecting local vegetables and crops from damage. Because of this, locals refer to the falcons as the “Harbingers of Plenty.”
Amur falcons are particularly skilled at hunting insects that form large swarms, such as alates (winged termites), locusts, grasshoppers, and dragonflies. Dragonflies, while harmless to plants, often cross the falcons’ hunting path. Other insects, like termite offspring, can threaten plants at all growth stages, damaging main roots and stems. Locusts, in large swarms, can strip entire plants of foliage and stems, historically even leading to famines. Grasshoppers cause defoliation by consuming and cutting foliage, leading to crop loss, especially when they feed on ripening grains.
Rodents, in turn, damage human food supplies by spoiling them with urine and spreading disease. Burrowing rodents also alter soil health, concentrating nutrients and organic matter in smaller areas and disrupting the larger soil ecosystem.
The author is an agricultural student at Arunachal University of Studies, with a keen interest in the domain of the symbiotic relationships within biodiversity and their impact on vegetation