Jatinga, the graveyard of birds

At the end of the monsoon season, especially on the moonless and foggy nights of September and November, the little hamlet in Assam surfaces in the headlines of many newspapers. When hundreds of birds of various colors and varieties drag themselves here like moths to a flame, the little village of Jatinga becomes a matter of international attention.

Jatiga, The mysterious spot of birds suicides. Image source- OrrisaPOST

The scenic village of Jatinga has everything to heal your soul. The green trees cover the mountain, and the white clouds sail through the teal sky. This landscape is just enough to trap your heart in this countryside. But, this breathtaking sight also holds a mystery that would not just surprise you but also leave you heartbroken.

Jatinga is the place that is quite famous as the bird’s suicide point. According to locals, birds from all over the world flock here not to mate, migrate or do anything else but to commit suicide.

The greenery comes to life when the tranquil rain falls on the ground of Jatinga. The scented smell of the wet soil spreads through the air. Birds from all over the world fly here, flapping their colorful wings in the sky. But then comes the dark hour between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m., when the mass suicide of migratory birds occurs. This is not only about the migratory birds but also the local birds that are in this death race.

Surprisingly, the villagers of Jatinga had determined that the birds only visited the village between August and October and that certain meteorological conditions were needed for them to do so. They also noticed that igniting fires drew the birds in like magnets. But there is a village just two kilometers north of Jatinga that is completely ignored by the birds, despite people's several attempts to lure them with lights.

According to the local inhabitants, this is caused by mystical energies that blend into the air, killing all the birds. They also believe that even humans moving about during these hours is fatal.

The villagers also hold onto the long-held belief that evil spirits were responsible for this heinous incident. However, as modern science has advanced, many ornithologists (those who study birds) suggested that birds such as kingfishers, pond herons, and tiger bitterns exhibit such bizarre behavior.

In Jatinga, the majority of the birds are known to commit suicide in the late monsoon season. Many bodies of water are flooded at that time, causing the birds to lose their homes and relocate to other locations. According to witnesses, the birds appear disoriented as they crash into trees, lights, and buildings.

This phenomenon of mass bird suicide has been taking place since 1910. However, this was limited to local talk. But the horrifying truth was revealed to the world in 1957, when ornithologist E.P. Gee described it in his book, "WildLife of India."

Hundreds of birds descend on the community as the sun sets. They fly at full speed towards buildings and trees, plummeting to their deaths. Even though many scientists from the country and beyond have been working on the issue, the exact reason has not come to the surface yet.