BIRD MYSTERY STORY OF JATINGA VALLEY

BIRD MYSTERY STORY OF JATINGA VALLEY

Our world has too many mysteries in its store. The Stonehenge, Loch Ness Monster, The Pyramids of Egypt, Bermuda Triangle and many other mystery stories have always fascinated our imagination. Unexplainable indeed, these mysterious happenings have startled our thoughts over the ages.

Like other mysterious stories in India, the Jatinga mystery story has been an exciting question for many people across the globe. Every year tourists from all over the globe come to witness an unusual phenomenon in Jatinga.

Jatinga is a forested village in the North Cachar Hills of Assam, India. This land abounds in great variety of flora and fauna. The beauty of Jatinga ridge is simply spectacular, but what arrests the eye of the people is the bird mystery of the valley. A common story runs that endangered birds commit mass suicide in this Death Valley.

Every year, at the end of the monsoon season (mainly during August and November) many large groups of birds come to this place. Red-legged Crake , Slaty-breasted Rail, Indian Pond Heron, Chinese Pond Heron, Ruddy Kingfisher, Cinnamon Bittern, Hooded Pitta , Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, many other exotic birds as well as local species fly down onto fires set by villagers in the ridge probably stretching from1.5km long and 200 meters width.

This weird phenomenon was first observed by the Naga tribes as long as 1905.For many years; numerous explorations took place to understand this queer incident. It has been observed that under certain situations these incidents mainly take place especially when there is light rain, foggy weather, southerly winds blowing at a speed of 5 to 10 km per hour, and most significantly lights placed at vantage points along the ridge. Another most important observation is that the exotic birds dash onto the lights in empty stomach.

Many sociologists, ornithologists, scientists and other experts have tried to understand this mystery story of wild birds. The first notable explanation was held by Dr Sudhir Sengupta, a renowned naturalist sent by the zoological survey of India in 1977. According to him, specific weather conditions have an effect in the magnetic field of the underground water in the Jatinga ridge, which lead the exotic birds to act abnormally towards the light. During that time, Dr. Sengupta highlighted this unique behavior of the wild birds in the international community as well as the then Govt. of India. Since then, many experts have opined on this queer incident.

The Assam Forest Department has made provisions to permit tourists observe this unique phenomenon. A small library has been set up containing books on birds and chart of the about bird drops for the visitors.

No wonder, whatever is the reason of this wildlife behavior, but the Death valley has been luring tourists from across the globe. The Jatinga bird mystery always enthralls us.

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