BEE-EATERS, THE GEMS OF THE SKY

European Bee-eater  (Merops apiaster)

  

   

Every spring, when the sunrays begin to warm the air up, a squall coming from Africa brings back to us the abundant life of these migratory birds.

   

They ascend over our peninsula in hordes, depending on species, riding on favourable warm winds, flying north, searching for their birthplaces in Europe.

  

   Now, our surrounding has been decorated with their abundant multi-coloured flora which invites you to take a walk in nature, into our woods. But this time a few splashes of colour have joined the beauty of the landscape. They pass in front of us with their elegant glides, showing his impressive livery, while clamping insects in the air.

  

Their flights are accompanied with cheerful decoys and after a catch, they return to their vantage point where their partner is. They are the Bee-eater.
  

Copula

  
    They would settle in open areas, where some sandy slopes are found. There, they would scramble to occupy previous nests or they will dig new and deep tunnels, which expand at the end for the nesting chamber. This excavation technique is performed by two other species more: Kingfisher and Sand Martin.

   

   It is one of these five birds, of extraordinary beauty, called coraciiform birds: Hoopoe, Golden Oriole, Roller, Kingfisher and Bee-eater, which fill with pride our abundant and unique ornithological fauna.

   Observing these very beautiful birds of ruby eyes with a zoom lens is honestly a pleasure.
   

The remains of the shells of insects of insects are regurgitated.

   Their prey are medium and large insects caught in flight. For this reason and because of pesticides, little by little, the individuals, which were formerly large families, have gradually decreased.

   

   During six months they would reside in our land, being the envy of the most of Europe, especially the North.

   

  When August is over and September begins, the cacophony of Bee-eaters will return to the South crossing the Strait of Gibraltar on the ridge of some favourable storm towards the tropical and southern Africa where they departed.




Photographs by author

Manolo Ambou Terradez