Volunteers of Pongching Students’ Union have been protecting the Amur Falcons in its jurisdiction since 2012, but without any facilities, aid or support from any sources.
This year, through joint initiative of Pongching Village Council, Pongching Baptist Church and Pongching Students’ Union, a Watch Tower has been built, which was inaugurated on October 27. The Pongching people rejoiced the construction of the Watch Tower and awareness created regarding protection of the Falcons. However, the villagers lamented that though Nagaland government, concerned department and others have given full concentration towards other roosting sites in the State, Pongching village has not been given attention despite the villagers reporting to the concerned department personally and even through press release in the past years.
The villagers requested all the well-wishers to support them to protect the rare bird and specially requested the concerned department and stakeholders to intervene and initiate several necessary measures, developmental and promotional activities and awareness campaign through local involvement.
Currently, the site is looked after by the volunteers of Pongching Students’ Union and the Students’ Union of neighbouring Mongtikang Village. All stakeholders have been requested to co-operate and help them.
The villagers further invited all interested persons to visit the Amur Falcons roosting site at Pongching village, which is located at Yengchi-Ponghau area (covering Chitok, Shoyum areas), some 5Km from the village and 10Km from district headquarters Longleng.
There is temporary Rest House constructed near the Watch Tower and the best time to watch the birds is evening and morning hours. The Amur Falcons normally arrive at the roosting site in first week of October and they retreat towards the end of November. Compared to previous years, there have been huge increase in numbers of the Amur Falcons this year, the villagers said.
Published at Murong Express on November 4, 2015
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