Many thanks for your reply. Yes they will feed on alternative food. White throated eat vegetable matter. Carmine feed on locusts in the wild and are easy to feed. But feeding was the original hindrance to keeping bee eaters in captivity. They will eat mealworms & waxmoths, chopped earthworms, but theyrequire a more nutritous diet long terms. Pehaps because all bee keeper species include honey bees in their diet and the distribution of the family concides with the distribution of honey bees their was so much focus in the early days on trying to include substitute flying insects such as flies which in volume provide few nutrients. In captivity they were also traditionally given beef heart ( But although high in protein low in fat, its now known to contains thiaminase which deactivates thiamine in the diet.) Although a variety of bee eaters are kept in public institutions I understood it was usually the same species like the carmine and white throated that were regularly captive bred. You say many more have been bred, to your knowledge which of the 31 species do you know have been bred in captivity? Thanks again for replying.
Bee-eaters in captivity
- Thread starter GerbenElzinga
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European and Little Green Bee-eaters have been bred
Many thanks for your reply. I'll look into that. Any names of zoos? I can't find anything in the Avicultural Magazine (UK) regarding the European species since a breeding success in 1970. Thanks .
I have records of breeding in 2001 -2002 for white fronted in San Diego zoo (Avicultural Magazine) Details about European species hard to trace.
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Many thanks for your reply According to Zootierliste the European species is well presented is in EU and some non EU zoos, but I can't find any record details of any breedings.
Bee eaters are only very very rarely kept by Czech private breeders - due to complete lack of interest as well as relative high maintenance cost compared to parrots or finches.
2012 Mr. Drozdek obtained a mixed flock of European, white-fronted and carmine bee eaters - captive bred from Dutch breeders. He kept them for few years, bred all 3 species, and then lost most of them to some infection during a short while after he acquired additional birds from German breeder and mixed them with his flock. He doesnt keep any anymore.
Partial source with some pics at the end. Second source
No Czech zoo has so far bred any bee eater species. Plzen had them for 2 decades and nothing (just eggs).
2012 Mr. Drozdek obtained a mixed flock of European, white-fronted and carmine bee eaters - captive bred from Dutch breeders. He kept them for few years, bred all 3 species, and then lost most of them to some infection during a short while after he acquired additional birds from German breeder and mixed them with his flock. He doesnt keep any anymore.
Partial source with some pics at the end. Second source
No Czech zoo has so far bred any bee eater species. Plzen had them for 2 decades and nothing (just eggs).
Thanks again for the comments . Further research and info from a UK colleague who breeds softbills just confirmed what you stated. Red-throated & white-throated occasionally are available in the UK, white throated have been bred here (UK) European species bred regularly by a private breeders in Holland, Germany, and Belgium. Zoo in Czech republic breeds them regularly . Zoos in Germany have the largest variety of bee eaters in Europe. In the US the white throated seems to be the commonest species kept and bred. Feeding by throwing insects in the air ( Many bird keepers here will be aware Bee eaters catch food morsels that are thrown towards them as do toucans and hornbills but perform the catch in mid air) This has proved successful at zoos like the Bronx zoo where bees & other insects are provided. Pity more effort isn't made to house colonies of bee eaters now that it's known open country bee eater species unlike forest species form complex social groups consisting of immediate and extended families and other helpers at nest sites. Few captive birds can be kept on a colony system, and I think zoos are missing an opportunity to exhibit these social aspects of bird behaviour Thanks again for your information . Much appreciated
Thanks Jana appreciate your informed comments as there has been suggestions zoos in Czech republic may be breeding bee eaters thanks for clarifying that.
I was told by a zoo acquaintance of mine that the last white-throated bee-eater at the San Diego Zoo died a couple of years ago. I recently came back from San Diego and went two days at the zoo and a day at the Safari Park. The white-throated bee-eater was my target species until I heard that fact. I'll have to find an excuse to fly out to either the National Aviary or the Bronx Zoo.
The San Diego Zoo only holds the northern carmine and the white-fronted bee-eaters.
I've also seen northern carmine bee-eaters at Disney's Animal Kingdom back in November of 2022.
I look forward to seeing the northern carmine bee-eaters at the St. Louis Zoo when I go there next week.
Other than the white-throated, the only other bee-eater species I'd like to see in person are the European bee-eaters.
My favorite species are the European, northern carmine, and white-throated.
The San Diego Zoo only holds the northern carmine and the white-fronted bee-eaters.
I've also seen northern carmine bee-eaters at Disney's Animal Kingdom back in November of 2022.
I look forward to seeing the northern carmine bee-eaters at the St. Louis Zoo when I go there next week.
Other than the white-throated, the only other bee-eater species I'd like to see in person are the European bee-eaters.
My favorite species are the European, northern carmine, and white-throated.
P.S.: When I did my first behind-the-scenes tour at the San Diego Zoo December 11th, 2021, my tour guide started that they provide a beehive at the top of and outside of the aviary so the bee-eaters can pursue their prey.
During my most recent visit, a butterfly found its way into the aviary and all the bee-eaters took off all at once and were chasing that butterfly. It was quite the spectacle.
During my most recent visit, a butterfly found its way into the aviary and all the bee-eaters took off all at once and were chasing that butterfly. It was quite the spectacle.
Penang Bird Park no longer holds bee-eaters
What species are you talking about?
MOG2012
Well-Known Member
Where does south wick have bee-eaters? I didn’t see any on my last visit 2 months ago. Is it in the bird show?
In Japan, the only bee-eater species on display is the Northern Carmine Bee-eater, kept at just two facilities: Zoorasia and Kobe Animal Kingdom. According to the latest annual report from Yokohama Zoological Gardens, Zoorasia currently houses 13.11 birds, while Kobe has 3.3, bringing the total in Japan to 16.14.
A few years ago, Zoorasia alone had over 40 birds, but breeding suddenly stopped there, causing a gradual decline in Japan’s population. Kobe Animal Kingdom has never successfully bred the species, and their group has decreased from 10 to 6 birds. On the positive side, Zoorasia managed to breed them this year for the first time in several years, giving the numbers a small boost.
I had assumed these birds would breed readily like mice, but that does not seem to be the case. They also appear to be rare in American and European collections, which suggests that larger colonies at places like Cologne Zoo or Disney’s Animal Kingdom may play an important role in maintaining the global captive population.
Does anyone on ZooChat have more information about this species in captivity?
A few years ago, Zoorasia alone had over 40 birds, but breeding suddenly stopped there, causing a gradual decline in Japan’s population. Kobe Animal Kingdom has never successfully bred the species, and their group has decreased from 10 to 6 birds. On the positive side, Zoorasia managed to breed them this year for the first time in several years, giving the numbers a small boost.
I had assumed these birds would breed readily like mice, but that does not seem to be the case. They also appear to be rare in American and European collections, which suggests that larger colonies at places like Cologne Zoo or Disney’s Animal Kingdom may play an important role in maintaining the global captive population.
Does anyone on ZooChat have more information about this species in captivity?