Status of Blue-Cheeked Bee-Eater Merops Persicus in South-Western India

Gosavi et al.: Blue-cheeked Bee-eater 117

Status of Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus in south-western India

Paresh Gosavi, Harikumar Mannar, Sumesh P. B., Vinay K. L. & Mohammed Saleem

Gosavi, P, Mannar, H., Sumesh, P. B., Vinay, K. L., & Saleem, M., 2019. Status of Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus in south-western India. Indian BIRDS 15 (4): 117–119. Paresh Gosavi, Blooming lily, Bella Vista Corlim, Goa, India. E-mail: [email protected] [PG] Harikumar Mannar, Chittammethu House, Kuttenperoor P.O., Mannar, Alappuzha, Kerala, India. E-mail: [email protected] [HM] Sumesh P.B., Puthiyaparambil House, Ezhupunna South P.O., Cherthala, Alappuzha, Kerala, India. E-mail: [email protected] [SPB] Vinay K. L., #3149, Roayalkeri, Honnavara 581334, Karnataka, India. E-mail: [email protected] [VKL] Mohammed Saleem, Environment Conservation Group, 103, N. H. Road, Opp. Naaz Theatre, Coimbatore 641001, Tamil Nadu, India. E-mail: [email protected] [MS] Manuscript received on 23 April 2019.

he Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus is a well-known almost every month till date in that general area (Mannar & passage migrant / winter visitor to the northern and north- Sumesh 2016; eBird 2019). HM & SPB have documented it Twestern Indian Subcontinent (Ali & Ripley 1987; Grimmett attempting to breed [158] at that site (Mannar & Sumesh 2015), et al. 2011; Rasmussen & Anderton 2012). However, post-2015 though in subsequent years, they were not able to provide any there are an increasing number of sightings from southern India more breeding evidence. Retrospectively, the first report from as well, which have been reported by eBirders from the states Kerala was also from Changaram on 10 March 2012 [159] by of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Goa (eBird 2019). This Jinu Muraleedharan (Birders Ezhupunna 2012), and predates paper aims to collate these sightings in a wider perspective Sreenivasan (2013) and we take this opportunity to put that on of vagrancy, local migration, or resident status with a focus on record. seasonal sightings. The first report of this species, from anywhere in southern India, was by Paul Holt, who reported it from Goa in November 2007 (Holt 2009). In April 2013, P. P. Sreenivasan photographed it at Kole Wetlands, Malappuram, Kerala (Sreenivasan 2013); both records were during the autumn/spring passage, and hence, considered as vagrant; off the main migration route through the Arabian Sea. However, this status has since changed and we compile sightings from published literature and eBird to update its status.

State-wise summary Kerala: After Sreenivasan’s first report in 2013, SPB and others Jinu Muraleedharan first observed the bird at Changaram wetlands in April 2014 (George 2014); since then the species has been observed

159. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater from Changram in March 2012, first report from Kerala.

Apart from Changaram, it has also occurred consistently around the Upper Kuttanad wetlands, situated in the southern part of Alappuzha District, since November 2017. Records of its presence in that area span all months except during the peak monsoon (May–August). Apart from these two areas, it has also occurred, since then, in the districts of Malappuram, Thrissur, Ernakulam (parts adjoining Alappuzha District), Kottayam, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram (Table 1). It has not yet been reported from the coastal districts of northern Kerala (Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod).

Tamil Nadu: The only recorded occurrence is from Coimbatore [160], in April 2018 by MS (Table 1). However, a record in spring Harikumar Mannar Harikumar 158. Attempted nesting of Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters from Changaram wetlands. from anywhere in southern India is not exceptional. 118 Indian Birds Vol. 15 No. 4 (Publ. 16 December 2019) Mohammed Saleem 160. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater from Achankulam, Coimbatore in April 2018.

Table 1. Sightings post 2015 from southern India excluding areas around Changaram and Upper Kuttanad wetlands in Alappuzha district, Kerala No Site State Month Year Observer* # Birds eBird checklist 1 Ezhumaanthuruthu, Kottayam Kerala April 2015 PJG 5 S22626787 2 Punchakari, Thiruvananthapuram Kerala June 2015 NA 4 S24264548 3 Pallipuram, Alappuzha Kerala May 2016 RTR 5 S30173406 4 Kandakkvaddu, Ernakulam Kerala June 2016 SPB 4 S30238887 5 Punchakari, Thiruvananthapuram Kerala June 2016 JJ 2 S30809347 6 Chellanam, Erankulam Kerala July 2016 SPB 2 S30789424 7 Paravur, Kollam Kerala July 2017 HB 3 S38199040 8 Achankulam, Coimbatore Tamil Nadu April 2018 MS 2 S44141832 9 Kenjar, Dakshin Kannada Karnataka May 2018 VKL 1 S46026837 10 Mariyamthuruthu, Kottayam Kerala July 2018 RA 5 S47535551 11 Kenjar, Dakshin Kannada Karnataka July 2018 VKL 1 S47289824 12 Chitrapu Dakshin Kannada Karnataka July 2018 VKL 2 S47418907 13 Barkur, Udupi Karnataka July 2018 RS 5 S47269717 14 Dhado, North Goa Goa July 2018 PG 2 S47182280 15 Kanasagiri, Uttar Kannada Karnataka November 2018 RR 8 S49880802 16 Kandakkvaddu, Ernakulam Kerala November 2018 RP 8 S49638691 17 Kesthur, Charmrajnagar Karnataka January 2019 PM 5 S51694724 18 Thommana Kole, Thrissur Kerala May 2019 RK 1 S56162795 * HB: Hari Bharathan, JJ: Jaichand Johnson, NA: Nitin Agarwal, PM: Pallavi M, PJG: PJ George, RS: Ramit Singal, RK, Raphy Kalletumkara, RA: Robin Antony, RR: Rohidas Revankar, RTR: Renju TR, TB: Tubin Babu. Gosavi et al.: Blue-cheeked Bee-eater 119

Karnataka: VKL reported it first from Dakshin Kannada in May 2018 [161], and it has been reported on three occasions from different wetlands in Dakshin Kannada and Udupi districts in July 2018. Apart from that, there is a November 2018 report from Uttar Kannada and a January 2019 report from the inland district of Charmarajnagar (Table 1).

Fig. 1. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater reports from south-western India. Map: S. Subramanya Vinay KL 161. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater from Kenjar Wetlands, Daskhin Kannada in May 2018.

Goa: After a gap of 11 years, PG reported two individuals [162] Either way, multiple reports from several south-western coastal in North Goa District in July 2018. This is the only report in recent districts, from Goa till Thiruvananthapuram, during the monsoon years from the state. establishes the fact that the species’ status has changed in recent years. The bird is probably nomadic during the monsoon, visiting various wetlands for short durations. It’s attempted breeding, and year-round status in and around the Changaram wetlands establishes that it is resident at least there; and probably breeding Though it is hard to establish with certainty, circumstances indicate that the population of Changaram wetlands might have dispersed northwards and southwards, and might be the source for the recent monsoon reports. Further reports, in the years to come, will clarify the residential status of this bird in south-western India. Cataloguing sightings on eBird will help to establish status and open up new avenues to understand the species and throw more light on its migration pattern. Paresh Gosavi 162. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater from Dhado wetlands, North Goa in July 2018. References Ali, S., & Ripley, S. D., 1987. Compact handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan It has occurred, till date, in nine (of the 15) coastal districts together with those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. 2nd ed. Delhi: along the south-western coast of India, except South Goa, Oxford University Press. Pp. i–xlii, 1 l., 1–737, 52 ll. Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Kanyakumari Birders Ezhupunna. 2012. Website URL https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S25306110. (Fig. 1). [Accessed on 15 May 2019.] eBird Basic Dataset. 2019. Version: EBD_relApr-2019. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Apr 2019. Discussion George, V., 2014. Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters Merops persicus from Changaram wetlands. Both, Kerala, and Goa have been well birded in patches by resident Malabar Trogon 11 (1–3): 30 (2013). Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C., & Inskipp, T., 2011. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. 2nd ed. and visiting birders—particularly in winter, and sporadically during London: Oxford University Press & Christopher Helm. Pp. 1–528. the monsoon. Information on migration was available even Holt, P. I., 2009. A sight record of Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus in Goa. before 2010 (Lainer 2004; Sashikumar et al. 2011). However, Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 105 (2): 217–218 (2008). Blue-cheeked Bee-eater can be easily confused with a Blue-tailed Lainer, H., 2004. Birds of Goa. A reference book. Mapusa, Goa: The Goa Foundation. Bee-eater M. philippinus—hence, there is a high chance it could Pp. i–ii, 1–244. have been overlooked between August and April. Mannar, H., & Sumesh P. B., 2016. An atlas of the birds of Alappuzha. Thrissur, India: Most Blue-tailed Bee-eaters emigrate from south-western CGH Earth. Pp. 1–95. India during late summer/monsoon, except for small, well- Mannar, H., & Sumesh P. B., 2015. Attempted nesting by Blue Cheeked (sic) Bee-eater known, breeding colonies like the one in Kasaragod District Merops persicus in Alappuzha District, Kerala. Malabar Trogon 13 (1): 33–34. Rasmussen, P. C., & Anderton, J. C., 2012. Birds of South Asia: the Ripley guide. 2nd (Sashikumar et al. 2011). Hence, during the monsoon season, ed. Washington, D.C. and Barcelona: Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions. 2 any large bee-eater with pins on its central rectrices would have vols. Pp. 1–378; 1–683. alerted birders. An alternate explanation could be that the Blue- Sashikumar, C., Praveen J., Palot, M. J., & Nameer, P. O., 2011. Birds of Kerala: status cheeked Bee-eaters were highly localized during the pre-2015 and distribution. 1st ed. Kottayam, Kerala: DC Books. Pp. 1–835. monsoon season and the lack of birding in areas like Changaram Sreenivasan, P. P., 2013. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater from Kole Wetlands, Kerala. Indian could be the reason for a lack of reports. BIRDS 8 (4): 110.