Assam: Tiger Bitterns Return to Jatinga After A Gap of Nine Years

These migratory birds arrive on foggy, moonless nights, flying against the wind when it blows from the southwest to the northeast.

The rare Tiger Bittern was sighted in Jatinga during the seasonal migratory bird phenomenon, perhaps due to increasing awareness about bird conservation among the locals. This mysterious bird event has made Jatinga, located just 7 km from Haflong, the district headquarters of Dima Hasao in Assam, famous worldwide for the unusual behaviour of migratory birds, which occurs from September to November.

The arrival of the birds, including Indian pittas, two varieties of kingfishers, common moorhens, drongos, and green pigeons, began on recent nights around 7:40 PM and continued for several hours, thanks to favourable weather conditions. The birds spotted this season are juveniles, belonging to the current year’s brood, and are not resident birds of Jatinga.

These migratory birds arrive on foggy, moonless nights, flying against the wind when it blows from the southwest to the northeast. The absence of even one of these conditions can lead to their non-appearance. The birds, mostly aquatic, gather in specific locations near Jatinga under these unique weather circumstances, which include heavy fog, drizzling rain, and a favourable wind direction.

Although there has been a noticeable decline in the number of visiting birds due to environmental and climatic changes, the enthusiasm of bird lovers to witness this peculiar phenomenon remains strong.

A similar phenomenon has been observed in Doiheng village, located about 25 km from Haflong on the old Haflong–Silchar Road, where a record number of birds visited this year. Ruothlal Hmar, the Gaon Bura of Doiheng, mentioned that while villagers were previously unaware of the need to protect these birds, awareness campaigns organized by the forest department have changed this attitude. Now, villagers are committed to not harming the birds.

Hmar appealed to the villagers to protect these visiting winged guests and requested the authorities to establish a bird-watching tower in Doiheng, making it a must-visit tourist spot in Dima Hasao.

Tuhin Langthasa, DFO of the West Division, stated that the forest department is dedicated to protecting these visiting birds and will continue patrolling throughout the season to ensure their safety. He expressed encouragement at the sighting of the Tiger Bittern after nine years, emphasizing that the community’s awareness and efforts to preserve the local avian population are showing positive results. Langthasa assured that the forest department is always ready to collaborate with villagers and others to ensure the safety and security of these birds.

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