High up in the misty hills of Dima Hasao District in Assam lies a small, serene village called Jatinga. Here exists one of the most chilling and fascinating natural mysteries — the so-called “Bird Suicide Phenomenon.”

For decades, villagers and travellers alike have been spellbound by stories of birds plunging to their deaths on dark, foggy nights. What causes this strange behaviour? Is it nature, science, or something more supernatural?

Let’s step into the myth, mystery, and meaning of Jatinga — where science meets folklore, and the skies turn eerily silent.

A Night of Strange Deaths

Every year, between September and November, as the monsoon’s touch begins to fade, the nights in Jatinga grow thick with fog and wind. It is around this time — usually between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. — that something inexplicable happens.

Migratory and local birds — herons, kingfishers, drongos, and others — suddenly appear out of the dark sky, flying low and erratically. They crash into trees, houses, or even fall lifeless to the ground.

For centuries, the villagers have witnessed this bizarre spectacle and wondered: Why do the birds choose death here?

The Myth and Legend of Jatinga

The Zeme Naga and Dimasa tribes, who have long inhabited the area, believe that the phenomenon is caused by the curse of spirits. According to folklore, evil winds sweep through the valley, trapping the souls of birds and luring them to the earth.

The sudden descent of the birds was seen as a message — a warning or punishment from unseen forces that roam the night sky. In earlier times, the villagers feared these nights. They would light torches and bonfires to ward off the spirits, unaware that the very light they used might have been drawing the disoriented birds closer.

Some local elders also say that Jatinga lies on cursed ground — a place where restless energies gather. The mountain mists, the dense bamboo groves, and the isolation of the valley all add to its haunted aura. For many, it remains a sacred site where the boundary between the natural and the supernatural blurs.

Science and the Rational Explanation

Modern research, however, tells a different story. Scientists suggest that the phenomenon is not about suicide at all — rather, it is a tragic ecological illusion.

During the monsoon season, between September and November, dense fog, low visibility, and high winds disorient nocturnal and migratory birds. Confused by the village lights, which they mistake for the moon and stars, the birds fly toward them. Exhausted and frightened, they crash into obstacles or fall prey to predators — and to humans who once mistook them for spirit-sent omens.

In other words, it’s not an act of self-destruction but a result of environmental disorientation. Yet even with science’s explanation, the emotional and spiritual mystery of Jatinga still lingers.

Jatinga: Where Myth Meets Nature

Today, Jatinga has become a quiet tourist attraction, where travellers come to witness the phenomenon that once baffled the world. The Assam government has tried to turn it into a birdwatching and eco-tourism site, balancing wildlife conservation with respect for local traditions.

Standing under the haunting fog of Jatinga at night, it’s easy to see why the legends endure. The winds whistle through the bamboo forests like whispers from another realm. You can almost feel the ancient beliefs come alive in the darkness.

Maybe Jatinga is not just about dying birds — maybe it’s a reminder of how mystery and myth still breathe within nature, even in our scientific age.

Epilogue: The Enigma Endures

Whether explained by science or shrouded in spiritual mystery, the Jatinga phenomenon remains one of India’s most extraordinary natural wonders. It stands as a symbol of how human imagination weaves myth from the threads of the unknown.

In the end, perhaps the story is less about death and more about the fragile beauty of life, nature’s confusion, and humankind’s eternal quest to find meaning in the inexplicable.