The Journal of Zoology Studies 2016; 3(4): 52 The Journal of Zoology Studies ISSN 2348-5914 Preliminarily survey on intraspecific interaction of Northern JOZS 2016; 3(4): 52 Carmine Bee-eaters (Merops nubicus nubicus) in Yardi vicinity JOZS © 2016 Received: 08-07-2016 of Afar region, Ethiopia Accepted: 12-08-2016 Author: Weldemariam Tesfahunegny Short communication Weldemariam Tesfahunegny Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Northern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicus nubicus are highly gregarious and aerial birds, Animal Biodiversity Directorate, P.O. Box 30726, Addis Ababa, mostly a bright pink in color with long streamers which are widely distributed and many Ethiopia beekeepers regard them as serious pests. Most of them are migratory species that spend part of the year in apiaries preying on honeybees before moving to another area. However, during their presence in the vicinity they produce specific sounds that honey bees can recognize easily causing them to stay in their hives. Northern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicus nubicus species are insectivorous, consuming diverse species of flying insects, especially bees and predators on bees. They are specialized in eating locusts, grasshoppers and exploit any plentiful flying insect. Their major hunting strategy involves hawking flying insects from perch. Perches may include branches of vegetation or even riding on their backs of large ground animals both wild and domestic, such as the Kori Bustard, goats and sheep to watch for flushed insects. Northern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicus nubicus also perch on storks, herons, egrets, ibises, cranes, secretary birds, cattle, camels, donkeys, zebra, wart hogs and antelopes. They are attracted to wildfires because of the flushed insects, and are often seen circling high in the air. They also eat rodents and lizards. The northern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicus nubicus is mainly locally abundant, in arid and semi-arid areas of the Afar region at Yard where it usually selects flat plan to nest underground earthen banks. It is one of the few bird species with the ability to modify the habitat by digging long burrows where it breeds, therefore fitting to the definition of allogenic engineer, diurnal birds that spend most of their time foraging for food. Generally, the conservation status of the northern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicus nubicus in Afar region was highly sustained with shepherds appears very remarkable, which involves the local community in the highly concerns and priorities were addressed. Autecological and behavioral studies of a focal bird species attempt to identify the environmental factors that influence population processes and behavior to develop best conservation mechanism. Corresponding Author: Weldemariam Tesfahunegny Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Animal Biodiversity Directorate, Tesfahunegny W. Preliminarily survey on intraspecific interaction of Northern Carmine Bee-eaters (Merops nubicus P.O. Box 30726, Addis Ababa, nubicus) in Yardivicinity of Afar region, Ethiopia. Journal of Zoology Studies. 2016; 3(4):52. Ethiopia *********************************************** Vol. 3 No. 4 2016 Page 52 Journalofzoology.com .