Feeding Behavior of Bee-eater

As the name suggest bees and wasps formed main diet of bee-eaters but they also feed on most flying insect such as dragonfly. I’m particularly delighted to watch the bee-eater ‘process’ their prey before consuming it or feed it to their juvenile.

When the bee-eater caught a bee or wasp, the bee-eater will repeatedly hit and rub them on the tree branch and at the same time add pressure onto the prey. This will remove most of the venom from their prey. Only then the prey is considered safe for consumption.

I saw this pair of Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis) last week during my trip to Pulau Ubin.

The juvenile (just fledged and without the brown caped) on the left patiently waiting while the parent is processing the bee.

The adult bee-eater hold the prey in the bill and hit it against the tree branch that she perched on several time.
The bee-eater will at the same time add pressure onto the prey to force most of the venom out from the prey.

Only when the prey is considere safe for consumption, the adult bee-eater will feed it to their juvenile.
The adult carefully place the bee into the open bill of the juvenile.

The adult will just watch the juvenile slowly consume the processed food.
What a beautiful sight! "Like father like son!" or you may say "Like mother like daughter!
"

Singapore Botanic Garden

Singapore Botanic Garden is one of my favourite place for birding. Although the migratory birds had left, there are still lots of birds waiting for interested birders. Such as this Blue-Throated Bee-Eater(Merops viridis)

This bee-eater dive in to the water to cool down on a hot afternoon

 The Common Flameback (Dinopium javanense) busy looking for food

Male Common Flameback

Female Common Flameback

I heard the very distinctive call of the Lineated Barbet (Megalaima lineata) and finally got to take a closer look today right on top of me.

Lineated Barbet (Megalaima lineata)

I have seen White-Crested Laughingthrush (Garrulax leucolophus) many times at Bukit Batuk Nature Park & Kent Ridge Park but never before at Singapore Botanic Garden.

This squirrel was happily carry the fruit of Sand Box Tree without realising that the fruit will split into segments when ripped. The fruit explode when the squirrel starts to chew on it. The loud noise caused the squirrel looses it grips and fell down from the tree. After fell from the tree the squirrel running in circle like a crazy horse. It stops under another tree after running for about 45 seconds. I wonder if there is any squirrel actually killed while taking this 'highly explosive' fruits.

Touchdown Mania

I was backed at Ubin this morning and looks like the durian season is about to end soon. If you prefer original 'taste' kind of durians, you got to go Ubin fast before it is over. Well, Ubin is not just for durians...

The photos below were taken this morning all on the birds landing.A stylish landing by Stork-billed Kingfisher (Halcyon capensis)

Series of Blue-throated Bee-eaters (Merops viridis)

Blue-throated Bee-eater Feeding

This is the follow-up posting on the Blue-throated Bee-eater that I have posted on Tuesday. As I process my photos, I realised that all dragonfly caught are for the juvenile only. The bee-eater alternate the hunting between dragon fly & bees.The adult bee-eater (on the left with longer tail) feed the juvenile with dragonfly.
The juvenile bee-eater with the mouth wide open waiting for the offer from the adult bird. The juvenile is adjusting the dragonfly before swallow it down the throat.
The juvenile is trying to swallow another dragonfly and the adult is now back with bee in the mouth and knock the bee against the perch before eating it.
The bee-eater come back with another bee

The juvenile was waiting but the adult refuse to offer the bee to the juvenile
The adult bee-eater even move to another side to prevent the juvenile from getting the bee.

From this observations, I can only think of 3 possibilities of why the adult blue-throated bee-eater feed only dragonfly to the juvenile:

1. The size of the dragonfly is bigger thus provide more food.
2. The dragonfly can provide additional nutrient that the bees can't.
3. To prevent the juvenile from getting stung by the bees.

I will have to find out more as I am also interested to find out the real reason. Will update here when I have more info.

First posted on 11 June 09 1:12PM

Updates: Read more on BESGroup Site for latest updates!

‘Bee’ry Lucky Day!

The Bee-eaters are known of feeding on stinging insects such as bees, wasps, hornets, ants, etc and that’s how they got their name.

I was at Ubin last Saturday and saw this very special moment. Confrontation between bees and a Blue-throated Bee-eater! The bees realized he got himself a big trouble when flying cross the Bee-eater path. Guess what, the Bee-eater give it a miss! … What a lucky day for this bee!

The Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis) just stare at the bee and give it a miss and go for dragonfly instead.