Jatinga is a lush, scenic and usually tranquil Indian village nestled comfortably within the Borail Hills range.
Known as the headquarters of the Dima Hasao district, it is also a famous resting place for many species of migratory birds: including kingfishers, Indian pitta, green-breasted pitta, green pigeons, black drongos, racket-tailed drongos, whistling ducks, spotted doves, emerald doves, and grey heron.
For the last few decades, however, a bizarre and ghastly occurrence has gripped the quiet village.
Most research indicates that birds are most active during the day. But almost every night at sunset between September and November, on a 1.5 kilometer (almost a mile) strip of land, hundreds of birds descend and like a massive dark cloud, crash into buildings and trees at full speed.
The mystery surrounding this phenomenon is even deeper than it seems.
“The most puzzling thing to me about this phenomenon is that so many species of diurnal resident birds should be on the move when, by definition, they should be fast asleep. The problem deserves a deeper scientific study from various angles,” said Salim Ali, India’s leading ornithologist.
Some argue that it isn’t “avian hara-kiri,” as the locals refer to it, but rather a natural occurrence resulting from the birds’ attraction to light and their hapless flight towards anything with a light source.
Some ornithologists believe there is a connection between the phenomenon and the electro-magnetic forces of the area, namely the geographical fault lines that surround Jacinta.
The Jatinga bird occurrence dates back to at least 1905, when the area’s original inhabitants witnessed the startling phenomenon, and although frightened, interpreted it as a gift from the gods.
Known as the headquarters of the Dima Hasao district, it is also a famous resting place for many species of migratory birds: including kingfishers, Indian pitta, green-breasted pitta, green pigeons, black drongos, racket-tailed drongos, whistling ducks, spotted doves, emerald doves, and grey heron.
For the last few decades, however, a bizarre and ghastly occurrence has gripped the quiet village.
Most research indicates that birds are most active during the day. But almost every night at sunset between September and November, on a 1.5 kilometer (almost a mile) strip of land, hundreds of birds descend and like a massive dark cloud, crash into buildings and trees at full speed.
The mystery surrounding this phenomenon is even deeper than it seems.
“The most puzzling thing to me about this phenomenon is that so many species of diurnal resident birds should be on the move when, by definition, they should be fast asleep. The problem deserves a deeper scientific study from various angles,” said Salim Ali, India’s leading ornithologist.
Some argue that it isn’t “avian hara-kiri,” as the locals refer to it, but rather a natural occurrence resulting from the birds’ attraction to light and their hapless flight towards anything with a light source.
Some ornithologists believe there is a connection between the phenomenon and the electro-magnetic forces of the area, namely the geographical fault lines that surround Jacinta.
The Jatinga bird occurrence dates back to at least 1905, when the area’s original inhabitants witnessed the startling phenomenon, and although frightened, interpreted it as a gift from the gods.
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