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| Jatinga, Assam,India, Birds committing suicide. www. sify.com |
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| Jatinga, Assam, India Birds committing suicide.www.assaminfo.com |
Every monsoon,
this scenic village witnesses an uncanny, but heart-wrenching
phenomenon that may baffle our imagination. Between September and October, especially during dark and
foggy nights, hundreds of several indigenous as well as migratory birds fly at full speed towards
trees and buildings, crashing to death. This 'mass bird suicide' was
first brought to global attention by famous naturalist E.P. Gee in
the 1960s. Technically, though the birds do not commit suicide but are, unfortunately, killed; however, the phenomenon of suicide has spread
far and wide among common people.
The best known ornithologist Anwaruddin Choudhury, who studied this area and the bird's behavior concluded that the birds, mostly juveniles and local migrants, are disturbed by high velocity winds at their roost. The presence of fog, mist and flooding in the water bodies cause disorientation among birds and fly in those areas where they see light. When the disturbed birds fly towards lights in the houses, etc as refuge, they are hit with bamboo poles and killed or injured by the local people. According to The Statesman, the birds are attracted to the villagers' torches and then killed upon landing. This peculiar phenomenon takes place
over a 1.5 km stretch of land in this village. The nefarious activities of killing the birds are declining now on account of local government's interference and protests from conservationists. Black Bitterns, Kingfishers, Tiger Bitterns and Pond Herons, are some of the common species of birds that come here during this season to take part in this unusual activity.
The following are the moot questions that remain unanswered:
The best known ornithologist Anwaruddin Choudhury, who studied this area and the bird's behavior concluded that the birds, mostly juveniles and local migrants, are disturbed by high velocity winds at their roost. The presence of fog, mist and flooding in the water bodies cause disorientation among birds and fly in those areas where they see light. When the disturbed birds fly towards lights in the houses, etc as refuge, they are hit with bamboo poles and killed or injured by the local people. According to The Statesman, the birds are attracted to the villagers' torches and then killed upon landing. This peculiar phenomenon takes place
over a 1.5 km stretch of land in this village. The nefarious activities of killing the birds are declining now on account of local government's interference and protests from conservationists. Black Bitterns, Kingfishers, Tiger Bitterns and Pond Herons, are some of the common species of birds that come here during this season to take part in this unusual activity.
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| Mass Bird Suicide - Jatinga, Assaminyminy.com |
01. Why do the birds fly at night instead of day, though they get back to the nest soon after sun down?
02. Why does this suicidal phenomenon regularly occur among the birds in a limited area of Jatinga in one part of Assam?
03. Every year during this particular season, the birds visit this place where the danger exists. Why do the birds choose this place? When they see the danger ahead of them while flying towards the lights, they can avoid them and the people by changing direction. This does not happen. Why?
Ref:
"Jatinga
Bird Mystery".
District Government of Region of North Cachar Hills. Retrieved July
9, 2007.
Choudhury, A. U. (1986). Bird killing at Jatinga. The Sentinel 7 September.
