One of the most spectacular sights
in southern Africa!
The Southern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicoides) is a common summer intra-African migrant, throughout savannas & open woodland. It is commonest along the Caprivi Strip (where these photos were taken) & north & eastern Botswana. However, it also occurs in Zimbabwe & north-eastern South Africa.
Bird, bathing in the river.
This colony is unusual, as it is situated in flat ground
& not along a river bank.
Delana getting some shots!
Birds often congregate in large number to socialize
in the tops of nearby bushes.
The main distribution centers around major rivers & most of the colonies are found in riverbanks. This concentration in large numbers at a few colonies, may lead this species to persecution from local people (who exploit these colonies for food) & natural occurrences like river erosion & collapse.
Birds arrive to breed from August onwards & they stay close to the colonies rearing their young. From December onwards both adult birds & their recently fledged young, range further afield & birds become much less gregarious. The majority of birds leave the southern African region in March & travel north tto equatorial Africa.
Adults take very large prey items
to feed to their young.
At this colony, all the large insects seemed to be
of the same species.
Birds range far & wide in search of food.
This bird is getting ready to go underground
to feed its young.
The colony where these photos were taken is found on community farmland & is not protected. However, tourists pay a small fee to the local community to view the birds which helps keep them safe from persecution.
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