The European bee-eater is a highly colourful bird belonging to the Coraciiformes order. Bee-eaters nest in the southern parts of Europe, north-western Africa from Morocco to Libya, Central Asia, the Middle East, as well as in South Africa and Namibia.

“Bee-eaters nest in one-to-two-metre-long burrows, which they dig into sandy steep banks or quarry slopes. They usually nest in small colonies. Bee-eaters are insectivores and primarily feed on various Hymenoptera – bees, wasps and hornets, from which the species gets its name. While foraging in flight, bee-eaters tend to fly at great heights, though their characteristic calls are clearly audible, provided one has the experience to recognise them,” explains LVM environmental expert Gaidis Grandāns.