Every year here on Londolozi, something quite incredible happens. A small bird of prey, the weight of the average banana, sets off from our reserve and begins its migration away from their winter feeding areas, all the way to north-eastern China, where they will begin to breed towards the end of May. The Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) is a trans-equatorial migrant (crossing the equator) and has one of the longest migratory routes of any raptor in the world. It also happens to be my favourite bird.
A male Amur Falcon perches on a stump, waiting for an opportunity to hunt. Only 29cm and 140g, this small bird has the longest migratory route of any raptor. Photo by: Derek Keats
As most of these raptors have slowly started their long trip back to their breeding grounds in China, I thought I would shed some light on the journey that awaits these phenomenal birds of prey.
The Amur Falcon takes one of the longest migratory flights of any Londolozi bird of prey, from the reserve (which is only one of the many places in Southern Africa that you can find them), they fly +/- 15 000km (9300 miles) to a few hundred kilometers outside of Beijing in China. Just to put things into perspective on how far this actually is, you would need to take 4 different flights leaving from Londolozi, and then a 10-hour bus transfer from Beijing to get to where they are known to settle for their breeding season.
Initially their migration away from us is relatively slow; this could be that they are stopping multiple times to feed and roost for the evening to build strength for the mammoth task that lies ahead. After moving through Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi and Kenya, they will stop for a prolonged time in Somalia (the horn of Africa) for two reasons. Presumably to build up fat reserves before trying to cross the ocean between Africa and India and secondly to wait for favourable winds which will help them across the waterbody. The falcons will take advantage of strong summer winds, usually the tail-winds from monsoons that occur from May to September. These winds will assist them all the way to the coast of India.
This stage of their migration is the most amazing for me; an Amur Falcon will leave the east coast of Africa and fly non-stop, covering almost 3000km over the Indian Ocean in roughly 60 hours. Imagine leaving work on a Friday at lunch time, enjoying your whole weekend and then when you arrive back at work on Monday morning, this tiny Falcon has been flying the whole time, non-stop. I’m not sure about you but I struggle to wrap my head around that.
A GPS-tagged Amur Falcon flew on this route back to China.
Thousands upon thousands of Amur falcons congregating in north-east India on their migration route. Photograph by Nick P. Williams.
After reaching mainland India, the birds seems to head steadily north and east towards their breeding grounds in China. On average the total migration is just shy of 15 000 km and will take each bird about 2 months.
As with most wilderness spectacles, I’m left asking myself a lot of questions; which Falcon was the first to figure out how to use the winds to help it cross the ocean? Is this purely instinct or is it learned behaviour, or maybe a bit of both? Sadly we might never get the answers to these types of questions. Although I did find an interesting theory to one of the questions I was wondering about: how can one of these birds go for such a prolonged period of time without rest? A researcher thinks that perhaps theirs brains can function – like Dolphins – somewhat autonomously in which the brain halves sleep alternatively. An interesting theory that makes a lot of sense.
For now though I’ll have to wait until November to see these remarkable birds again, although it would not matter in the slightest to them, I am left somewhat jealous on the adventure that awaits each bird on their return to China, a hop, skip, four flights and a bus journey away.
Smaller birds with usually group together during their migrations, this is no different with Amur Falcons. For the past few weeks few seen these Falcons in groups exceeding 30 individuals. The grey falcons are the males while the flecked ones are the females.
Interestimg blog Fin. It is mind boggling. Nature never seize to amaze.
Absolutely fascinating! You are right—we humans cannot imagine how this is possible! Thanks for sharing the story of your favorite bird, Fin.
Thank you – very interesting – their route is amazing! I am always in awe of nature.
That was amazing – I saw a photo once of HUNDREDS of Amir Falcons congregating on a wire fence getting ready to GO. I thought they were shallows until I read the caption!
Incredible navigational skills. Fascinating article. Thanks!
Truly awesome. I can see why it is a favourite of yours. Lovely opening photo by the way.
What an amazing journey! It is indeed remarkable what instinct leads them to do I’d love to see one!
And I thought my job was hard. 😉 Birds are amazing!
This was a fascinating blog. The endurance levels these birds face is phenomenal. I have read and observed in other species such as monarch butterflies, how many many months it takes to complete their migration. Nature is the best show on earth and I hope more citizens of the world tune in to keep the show running!!
Wow, I wish I could keep going for 60 hours sometimes! I hope China is worthwhile when they get there.!
The migration of birds is one of the most fantastic and incredible things in the world of the animal kingdom. Most of it is really still a mystery and just awesome. How these small birds (and also bigger ones as well, of course) manage to fly such long distances and how they know exactly where to fly to, is so amazing. When I was at Londolozi, “our” European swallows were still there and now I am happy that some of them have arrived again in their nests on my house, guests for the next few months. They flew all those thousands of kilometers to spend our summer here with us and bring up their chicks – hopefully.
A really nice blog Fin. It is truly amazing the lengths our wildlife need to travel in their migration. The Amur is a beautiful bird. On the subject of long migratory journeys, the distances that the Monarch Butterfly travels is another truly fascinating one. Mother Nature did an incredible job I think. Thank you for sharing with us.
Particularly when you relate it to their wing size or body weight!!!
Dear Fin. I don’t have any doubt at all that these little birds have this route planned out for them by the Lord when He created them. So their amazing route doesn’t have me trying to work out all sorts of other reasons. You see, I have a very firm belief in a Creator who created all of us the way we should be going, including the creatures He made! I just marvel at His work. I just so enjoy it – and leave it at that. Any other way leaves the human brain tied in knots. It is just not worth it! Bless you. Wendy M
If your’re interested, there’s a Facebook page dedicated to Amur falcons, Red-Footed falcons and Lesser Kestrels: MKProject: Amur,Red-footed Falcon, Lesser Kestrel Roosts. On that page there’s an interesting article on the Amur Falcon stopover in Nagaland in India: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/a-galaxy-of-falcons-witnessing-the-amur-falcons-massive-migration-flocks/?fbclid=IwAR2T7Pay5y4dVd0OPxinJVjqe5sRK56JIZ8IYSc1xU7-12ixH7ShYqfKPlA
Wow Fin! We are amazed at this story! Incredible that someone was able to track their migration like that. Hard to believe they can fly that far over open water! When is the period when they are in South Africa?
Nice
Very useful to me
Only one time i have chance to see this bird fron kerala.,
It was personally thrilling for me to read your blog and to put a face to the place where the Amur Falcons make their last stop before their return journey to the northern hemisphere and finally to my state in in Nagaland, in northeast India.
I work with the community that grabbed conservation news headlines for the mass slaughter of these raptors in 2012 and who also made a subsequent dramatic turn -around the following year towards conservation of the migratory visitors.
When the winter chill sets in Siberia/northern China the birds begin their migration to warmer grounds and begin to arrive in my home-state located in the southern end of the Himalayan range close to the Myanmar border.
I believe one of the factors that led to the change in behavior is when we told the farmers/hunters that hundreds of farmers like themselves await the arrival of the birds to eat billions of termites and insects before they begin their agricultural activities.
I wonder if it will be possible at all to share some photos of the Amur falcons in Londolozi, the landscape and its people with the Pangti villagers here in Nagaland.
I am sure it will gratly encourage their on going conservation initiative to protect the birds since 2013.
I have read your fantastic article about Amur Falcon.thanks a lot for valuable information.Last year (2021 October)I have visited Pangti villages ,Nagaland Amur Falcons stopover roosting site.Lakhs of Amur Falcon are roosting here
Once this area was a hunting area.but now a safe cooridor.The villagers love this bird now. Iam a bird watcher from kerala India
Thanking you
sasidharan manekkara