Nature Photography Exhibition on the Life of the European Bee-Eater

organised by the Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society.

These colourful birds can be found from the Pyrenees to the Ural Mountains, and from Asia Minor through Central Asia to Kashmir. As insectivorous specialists, they primarily feed on small to large dragonflies, moths, and locusts. True to their name (Merops apiaster – "bee-eater" or "bee-bird"), they also eat wasps and bees. Remarkably, they are somewhat resistant to stings but remove the stingers before swallowing their prey.
European bee-eaters nest colonially in steep loess or sand walls. They are common breeders in Hungary, with a population size estimated at 20,000–30,000 individuals.  Since 1982, they have been classified as highly protected birds with a conservation value of 100,000 HUF. Although they are not currently listed in the Red Data Book as endangered, they remain a priority for conservation.