RESEARCH ARTICLE

DISCOVERY OF A LARGE NESTING COLONY OF THE BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER (Merops philippinus) IN OLUVIL, AMPARA

Abstract

This paper reports the discovery of a new breeding site of the Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus) in Sri Lanka located in Oluvil, Ampara district (7.278355° N, 81.863966° E). It is the largest nesting site of this migratory species recorded in the island so far. The Blue-tailed Bee-eaters nested colonially on an artificial coastal sand dune approximately 6 m in height and 18 m in length created as a result of piling of dredged sand from the Oluvil fishery harbour. A total of 125 birds were counted from the vicinity of the sparsely vegetated dune in March 2017. Borrows were made only on the compacted and stable vertical and bare surfaces of the dune avoiding areas along the gradual and unstable slopes. An average burrow density of 27.6 burrows per square meter was recorded at the site, while the estimated maximum and minimum heights of borrows were 5.60 and 3.03 m, respectively. This recent discovery is important given that the Blue-tailed Bee-eater is designated as Critically Endangered based on the restricted range of its breeding population within Sri Lanka. It would thus be of added importance to monitor the arrival and breeding of the Blue-tailed Bee-eaters at this site annually, prior to disturbance of the sand dune. The present record also emphasizes that developmental activities, if carefully planned, could benefit species that are currently facing threat.

Keywords: Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus), migrant, nesting, sand dunes

How to Cite: Hewavithana,D.K,Pieris,A.L,Pieris,T.N, Wijesinghe,M.R, (2017). DISCOVERY OF A LARGE NESTING COLONY OF THE BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER (Merops philippinus) IN OLUVIL, AMPARA.WILDLANKA, 5(1):Pages 011-016

Published On:2017-05-31

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