Nagaland is in the news for hosting a four-day bird count event, the Tokhu Emong Bird Count (TEBC). This documentation exercise marks the first time the region has turned its focus to birds beyond the famed Amur falcons. The timing of the TEBC aligns with the post-harvest Tokhu Emong Festival, a significant cultural event in the Wokha district, primarily home to the Lotha Naga tribe.
About the Tokhu Emong Festival
The Tokhu Emong Festival symbolizes a fine amalgamation of religion, culture, and entertainment. Predominantly celebrated in the Wokha district, this lively, color-saturated festival starts on the 7th of November every year and lasts nine days. The term ‘Tokhu’ means moving from house to house, gathering tokens, gifts, natural resources, and food items. ‘Emong,’ on the other hand, implies a temporary halt for a designated period.
The festival’s main attractions include community songs, dances, feasts, and plenty of fun and cheer. It also serves as an outlet for narratives about ancestral history and lore, preserved and passed down over generations. Notably, during the festival, the locals offer tributes to the ‘Sky God’ and the ‘Earth God’, seeking divine blessings.
Understanding Amur Falcons
Amur falcons are renowned as the world’s longest-traveling raptors, their migratory journey beginning with the onset of winter. These raptors breed in southeastern Siberia and northern China and migrate across India in enormous numbers. From there, they cross the Indian Ocean to reach southern Africa before making their way back to Mongolia and Siberia.
Named after the Amur River that demarcates the Russia-China boundary, these falcons are known for their impressive 22,000-kilometer migration route, one of the longest among all bird species. Doyang Lake in Wokha, Nagaland, is a renowned stopover for these falcons during their annual migration from their breeding grounds to warmer climates in South Africa. Consequently, Pangti Village in Nagaland has earned the title, the “Falcon Capital of the World”.
Although labelled as the least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the Amur falcon species garners protection under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and the Convention on Migratory Species. As India is a signatory to the latter, it has an obligatory role to protect these birds.
Nagaland’s First Bird Count Beyond Amur Falcons
With the four-day Tokhu Emong Bird Count, Nagaland has broadened its avian interest beyond Amur Falcons. This comprehensive bird documentation event will provide a more in-depth understanding of the region’s avian biodiversity, contributing positively to the local conservation efforts. The timing of the bird count also holds considerable cultural significance, as it coincides with the local harvest festival, embracing an intriguing blend of cultural heritage and nature conservation.