Bee-eaters are predatory birds known for their bright colors and elegant flight. They present, however, significant challenges for beekeeping. Although they help balance insect populations, honeybees are a major part of their diet. This makes them a serious threat to apiaries. The birds’ presence can directly affect a hive’s honey production capacity. Colony productivity declines as their foraging behavior is restricted. When these predators are abundant, a noticeable decrease in worker bee flight activity is observed. This can cause bee stress and weaken internal hive defense mechanisms, negatively impacting overall colony health.
Bee-eater Diet and Bee Consumption Rates
Their feeding habits are primarily based on flying insects, with bees playing a central role. Consumption rates vary greatly depending on seasonal conditions, regional insect density, and the birds’ breeding cycles. Predation pressure peaks during the nesting season, driven by the high protein needs of the chicks. Their hunting strategies include specialized behaviors to counter venomous stingers.
How Many Bees Per Day? Variations by Region and Season
The daily number of bees consumed by a bee-eater is a dynamic range, not a fixed number. An adult bird outside the breeding season may consume 70 to 100 bees or similar insects daily. These numbers increase dramatically during incubation and chick-feeding. A pair of bee-eaters must catch 200 to 250, sometimes nearly 300, insects daily to feed their nestlings. A significant percentage of insects caught during this period, often 60% to 80%, may be honeybees. Late spring and early summer are peak times for both bee activity and bird breeding. In autumn, before migration, the birds increase feeding again to store energy.
Hunting Technique: Stinger Removal and Flight Strategy
The bee-eater‘s hunting process is highly specialized. These ‘ambush predators’ usually choose a perch with a clear view, like a utility wire, dry branch, or fence post. They sit motionless, observing their surroundings, especially apiary flight paths. Their vision is sharp; they can spot a bee from a considerable distance. Upon identifying prey, the bird dives rapidly. It catches the bee in mid-air, often 20 to 50 meters from the hive. The capture takes less than a second. The bird immediately returns to its perch for the most critical stage: stinger removal. Holding the bee firmly, it strikes the insect repeatedly against the hard surface of its perch. These strikes stun the bee and apply abdominal pressure. When enough pressure is applied, the stinger and attached venom sac are expelled or the venom is discharged. The bird then safely swallows its prey. This complex technique is learned by young birds watching their parents.
Prey Preference: Honeybee or Wasp?
Dietary analysis of these predators shows a clear preference for insects from the order Hymenoptera (honeybees, wasps, and hornets). Research shows they generally target the most abundant and easiest-to-catch species. Near apiaries, honeybees (Apis mellifera) fit this description perfectly. The constant flow of thousands of bees from fixed hives provides a predictable, dense food source. Therefore, a bee-eater colony near an apiary shifts much of its diet to honeybees. This does not mean they *only* eat honeybees; wasps and hornets are also important food sources, especially when honeybees are scarce. They also opportunistically hunt dragonflies, grasshoppers, flies, and some large butterflies to balance their diet.
Bee-eater Control and Protection Methods
Managing the negative impacts of these predators on apiaries is crucial for beekeepers. Control methods focus on deterrence and protection rather than targeting the birds. Optimizing apiary management strategies is also part of this process. An integrated approach combines physical barriers, deterrent systems, and strategic apiary placement. The goal is to minimize bee losses and reduce colony stress levels.
Predator Call/Scarecrow Use: Effectiveness and Limitations
A common method to deter these birds is using acoustic (sound) and visual deterrents. Acoustic deterrents broadcast recordings of natural predators, like hawks or sparrowhawks, at intervals. These sounds initially create a perception of threat, causing flocks to avoid the area. Visual deterrents include bright, reflective objects (like shiny discs or aluminum strips) or scarecrows shaped like predator silhouettes. The main problem is ‘habituation.’ Bee-eaters are intelligent; within 1 to 2 weeks, they realize these are not real threats. Once habituation occurs, the deterrent effect can drop below 50%. To maintain effectiveness, the locations and types of sounds and visuals must be changed continuously.
Hive Location and Flight Path Selection (Avoiding Riverbanks/Soft Soil)
Bee-eaters need steep slopes with soft soil for nesting; riverbanks, sandpits, or eroded hillsides are ideal. Among passive protection methods, the most effective is the strategic selection of the apiary location. The apiary should be established at least 1 kilometer, ideally 2-3 kilometers, away from these potential nesting sites. This distance increases the energy the birds must expend, making the apiary less attractive. Hive placement also matters. Entrances should not face prominent perching spots (utility wires, high branches, fences). Orienting the flight path toward a sheltered area, like bushes or woodland, reduces the risk of bees being caught mid-air.
Shading/Netting Systems and Site Layout
Physical barriers are the most definitive way to block the birds’ access to hives. During periods of intense pressure or to protect valuable breeding colonies, stretching bird netting over the apiary is very effective. This netting typically has a 10×10 cm or 15×15 cm mesh, allowing bees to pass but blocking birds. The netting should be stretched at least 2 to 3 meters above the hives to prevent birds from diving onto it. Alternatively, shade cloths over hives provide dual benefits: they protect bees from excessive sun and reduce the hives’ visibility from the air. This makes targeting difficult for the bee-eater. Scattering hives near natural vegetation (shrubs, trees) provides better protection than neat rows in an open field.
Behavior, Life Cycle, and Migration
The social structures and daily routines of these birds determine the timing of their impact on apiaries, while seasonal movements affect the intensity. These birds are extremely social, moving in large groups during breeding and migration. Their daily hunting times perfectly coincide with the hours when honeybees are most active. This makes conflict inevitable and creates a challenging management process for beekeepers.
Sunrise-to-Sunset Activity Window
Their hunting activities concentrate at specific times. They are generally not active early in the morning, waiting for the air and insects to warm up. Typically, first hunting sessions begin around 9 or 10 AM, just as honeybees begin to leave the hive. Activity may temporarily decrease during the hottest midday hours (e.g., 1:00-3:00 PM) as both species conserve energy. In the afternoon, around 4:00 PM, hunting intensity peaks again. This second session coincides with bees returning to the hives loaded with nectar and pollen. Returning bees fly slower and are easier targets. The birds hunt until they retreat to communal roosting sites near sunset.
Communal Living and Roosting Habits
The social nature of these birds is a distinct characteristic. They form large breeding colonies where tens, sometimes hundreds, of pairs nest together. This colonial lifestyle aids in nest defense and information sharing. When one bee-eater discovers a food source (like an apiary), the information spreads quickly through the colony, placing the apiary under intense pressure. Hunting is often done in groups. This social structure continues in their roosting behavior. Colony members or migrating flocks gather in ‘communal roosting’ sites (safe, high tree branches or large reed beds) to spend the night. Hundreds, even thousands of bee-eaters during migration, may roost in one tree. This communal roosting strengthens social bonds and organizes hunting groups for the next day.
Distribution and Habitat Preferences
The geographical distribution and habitat choices of these predators are linked to their biological needs. These birds prefer open and semi-open landscapes, favoring temperate and warm climates. Three factors are decisive in habitat selection: a sufficient supply of flying insects (food), suitable hunting perches (trees, wires), and favorable soil structures for nesting. These requirements limit their global distribution.
Sighting Periods and Migration Routes in Turkey
Turkey’s location is critical for bee-eater populations, as it lies on a main migration route between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. Many regions of Turkey also offer important breeding grounds. These birds are long-distance migrants wintering in Africa. Spring migration to Turkey usually begins in late April and continues through May. They enter the country and settle in suitable nesting areas. They spend the summer (June-August) breeding and raising young. Autumn migration begins in late August, intensifies throughout September, and lasts until October. They travel in huge flocks of thousands. Narrow crossing points, like the Istanbul and Çanakkale straits, are ideal places to observe these massive movements.
Nesting: Tunnels in Riverbanks and Soft Soil
The breeding strategy of these birds involves digging tunnels into the earth. They do not nest in trees or on cliffs, but rather excavate tunnels into vertical or near-vertical soil surfaces. Ideal sites are soft soils (sandy, loamy, or loess) that are easy to dig but unlikely to collapse. Slopes along riverbanks, sand pits, steep embankments from road construction, and erosion gullies are perfect nesting habitats. Pairs usually work together, using their beaks like pickaxes and their feet like shovels. The tunnel usually reaches a depth of 70 centimeters to 1.5 meters, though some exceed 2 meters. The tunnel proceeds horizontally or slopes slightly upward, ending in an enlarged ‘nest chamber’ where the eggs are laid.
Identifying the Bee-eater: Morphology and Distinguishing Features
Bee-eaters are among the most easily recognized species in Turkey’s bird fauna. Often, their colors alone are enough for identification. They have vivid feather patterns, elegant body structures, and characteristic flight styles. These features make them immediately noticeable to nature observers and beekeepers. Their morphology reflects their specialization in hunting insects on the wing.
Color Patterns, Beak Shape, and Measurements
The European bee-eater (Merops apiaster), the most common species in Turkey, resembles a color palette. An adult’s back and crown range from chestnut-yellow to dark brown; wings also contain green and blue tones. The underparts (belly and chest) are bright turquoise-blue. A prominent feature is the bright yellow throat patch, separated from the chest by a thin black ‘necklace’ line. Their eyes are red, with a black ‘mask’ stripe running to the beak. Body length is 25 to 29 centimeters, including the two long, thin central tail streamers. The wingspan is approximately 36 to 40 centimeters. The beak structure reflects its hunting technique: long, thin, slightly decurved, and sharp-tipped, perfect for delicately catching flying insects.
Confusion with Similar Species: European Bee-eater vs. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
The closest relative in Turkey that can be confused with the European bee-eater is the Blue-cheeked bee-eater (Merops persicus), seen in southern and southeastern regions. Their habitats may overlap, but they are easy to distinguish. The Blue-cheeked bee-eater is predominantly green. The bright chestnut-yellow and brown tones found on the European bee-eater’s back and head are absent; its back is also green. The Blue-cheeked bee-eater’s throat is yellow and rust-colored, but it lacks the distinct black ‘necklace.’ Furthermore, its tail streamers are generally longer than the European bee-eater’s. In flight, the European bee-eater looks more colorful and contrasted, while the Blue-cheeked bee-eater shows a more uniform green silhouette. Their calls also differ: the European bee-eater’s is a fluid “pruut pruut,” while the Blue-cheeked bee-eater’s call is harsher.
