Hakhezhe Amur Falcon Roosting Site

Hakhezhe Amur Falcon Roosting Site is a seasonal roosting area near Hakhezhe village in Zunheboto district, Nagaland, within the Doyang reservoir landscape. Each autumn, thousands of migratory Amur Falcons (Falco amurensis) congregate here during their long-distance migration from Siberia to southern Africa. Noted for community-led conservation, the site is valued for its large evening roosting congregations and its role as a model for migratory bird protection in Nagaland.

Visitors can expect a rural, forested landscape near the Doyang reservoir with open hills and roosting trees where Amur Falcons gather in large numbers at dusk and disperse at dawn. Viewing is typically from designated vantage points and village outskirts with local guides. There are no large built structures; the experience is focused on observing flocks in flight, learning about conservation efforts, and enjoying the surrounding reservoir and hill scenery.

The roosting sites around Doyang, including Hakhezhe and Pangti, gained national attention around 2012 when large-scale hunting of Amur Falcons was documented. Following this, the Nagaland Forest Department, village councils and conservation organizations initiated community-based protection, with villages declaring hunting bans and undertaking awareness and eco-tourism initiatives, establishing the area as a widely cited conservation success for migratory bird protection.

The site reflects community stewardship by Naga villages, particularly the Lotha community, where village councils, youth and church groups enforce protection of Amur Falcons. The annual arrival of the falcons is observed as a community conservation event with awareness programmes and guided eco-tourism involving local residents.