Which of the following statements with regard to the arrival of Amur Falcons at Doyang Lake in Nagaland each year from Mongolia is/are correct ? 1. It showcases how sustained local conservation efforts can contribute to the arrival and protection of international migratory birds. 2. It reflects the global success of advanced tracking technologies that guide migratory birds back to their stopover sites. 3. It confirms that Amur Falcons have adapted to permanent residency in India due to favourable habitat changes. Select the answer using the code given below :

The correct answer is A (1 only).

Statement 1 is correct: The arrival and safe roosting of millions of Amur Falcons at Doyang Lake in Nagaland is a globally recognized community conservation success story. Until 2012, thousands of these falcons were hunted for meat during their stopover. However, sustained local conservation efforts—driven by local Naga tribes (particularly in Pangti village), the state government, and wildlife NGOs—transformed the region. Today, mass hunting has ceased, and the region is celebrated as the "Amur Falcon Capital of the World".

Statement 2 is incorrect: Advanced tracking technologies, such as lightweight satellite Platform Transmitter Terminals (PTTs), have been successfully used by scientists to monitor and study the falcons' arduous 22,000 km migration routes. However, these devices only track movement; they do not guide the birds back to their stopovers. Migratory birds navigate using innate biological mechanisms, such as earth's magnetic fields and celestial cues.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Amur Falcons have not adapted to permanent residency in India. They are transcontinental, long-distance migrants. They breed in Eastern Asia (Mongolia, Siberia, Northern China) and winter in Southern Africa. Their presence in northeastern India during October and November is strictly a temporary stopover. They pause to rest and gorge on seasonal insects (like swarming termites) to build fat reserves before their massive non-stop flight across the Indian Ocean.

Takeaway: The Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) undertakes one of the longest over-water migrations of any raptor. Nagaland's Doyang Lake exemplifies how shifting local communities from hunting to ecotourism can create safe havens for international migratory species.