Question
Which of the following statements with regard to the arrival of Amur Falcons at Doyang Lake in Nagaland each year from Mongolia is/are correct?
1. It showcases how sustained local conservation efforts can contribute to the arrival and protection of international migratory birds.
2. It reflects the global success of advanced tracking technologies that guide migratory birds back to their stopover sites.
3. It confirms that Amur Falcons have adapted to permanent residency in India due to favourable habitat changes.
Explanation
The Amur Falcon is a remarkable long-distance migrant that uses Northeast India as a seasonal stopover. The conservation story around Doyang Lake also highlights how local communities can transform from hunters into effective conservation partners.
Statement 1 — Correct: Doyang Lake in Nagaland is a major example of community-led conservation. Local communities, supported by conservationists, NGOs and the Forest Department, successfully ended the large-scale hunting of Amur Falcons. This helped earn Nagaland the title “Falcon Capital of the World.”
Statement 2 — Incorrect: Scientists use satellite transmitters to track the falcons’ migration routes, stopover periods and flight patterns. These devices only record and transmit information; they do not guide the birds, which navigate using natural and environmental cues.
Statement 3 — Incorrect: Amur Falcons are long-distance migratory raptors, not permanent residents of India. They breed in Siberia and northern China and migrate to southern Africa. During their journey, they use Doyang Lake as a temporary stopover in October–November, where they build up energy reserves before continuing their migration across the Arabian Sea.