Rising temp linked to hike in number of cuckoos

Kharibam Yaiphaba Meitei
IMPHAL, Oct 25: Cuckoo was once a rare bird species in Manipur and it mostly remained a fictional character in poetry verses and other literary works for its sweet and enchanting sound but of late the number of cuckoo is rising and this does not bode well for the State’s climate.
Cuckoo is a species of bird which thrives only under specific climatic condi- tions or a range with specific climatic conditions.
Wildlife Explorers Mani-pur president Khoyumthem Brajesh kumar told The Sangai Express that the number of cuckoo in the State has not been counted but its sounds are heard frequently at different places across the State and these are unmistakable signs of its growing number.
Cuckoos usually live in warmer climates and its rising number in the State evokes a serious question whether the State’s climatic conditions have transformed drastically.
Any bird or animal only thrives in a region where the climatic conditions are favourable to them and sufficient food is available. If the rising number of cuckoos is any indication, worms and insects which cuckoos eat may be available abundantly in the State, Brajesh said.  
According to data collected from the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, in 2015 Manipur recorded the highest temperature of 39.98  degree Celsius in April in Chandel.
The highest temperatures recorded in the following years were 2016- 39.86 degree Celsius (Chandel); 2017-39.97 degree Celsius (Chandel); 2018- 39.92 degree Celsius (Tamenglong) and 2019-39.99 degree Celsius (Chandel).
2020 recorded the highest temperature of 39.83 degree Celsius in June in Noney. 2021 recorded 39.97  degree Celsius in April in Tengnoupal and 2022 recorded 39.99 degree Celsius in April in Tengnoupal.
The highest temperature reached 40 degree Celsius in 2023. Tengnoupal recorded 40 degree Celsius in April. Noney too recorded the same level of temperature in May and September that year. The highest temperature  rose to 42.19 degree Celsius in 2024 and it was recorded  in September in Noney. For the current year, Imphal West recorded the highest temperature of 41.91 degree Celsius in August. These data clearly show that the State’s climate is becoming hotter every year.
Environment activist Dr Khangembam Samungou said that cuckoo is a brood parasite which lays its eggs in the nests of other  birds.
At other places, cuckoos usually lay their eggs in the nests of crows. Thus it is the crows which incubate the eggs of cuckoos and raise their chicks, Samungou said.
However, in Manipur, the number of crows is limited. As such, cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of Chonga Amubi (House Myna).
“We have seen house myna raising cuckoo chicks. The rising number of cuckoo is an unmistakable indication that the State’s climatic conditions have changed”, he said.
Earlier, cuckoos used to migrate to the State during the hot months but today they are becoming a resident or native bird of the State. Cuckoos making their habitat in Manipur, laying eggs and their sounds becoming audible in different parts of the State are testimonies of the State’s climate becoming hotter, Brajesh Kumar said. Saying that rising temperature is a global phenomenon, Samungou underscored the urgent need to take up several measures in order to mitigate the negative impacts of the rising temperature and slow down the climate change.
He also highlighted the  need for creating extensive awareness on the importance of mitigating climate change.
This report is filed under the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change’s 6th Manipur State Level Media Fellowship Programme on Climate Change Reporting.