Northern Carmine Bee-eater - Liberia


Founded in 1822, the city of Monrovia contains more than 1/4 of the Liberian population. It was named for James Monroe, the 5th president of the United States. He was a member of the American Colonization Society, an organization responsible for establishing the colony of Liberia as a retreat for freed American slaves.

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Merops nubicus - As its name implies, the northern carmine bee-eater feeds primarily on bees, although other flying insects such as grasshoppers are also included in its diet. Bee-eaters use their long beaks to build elaborate nesting tunnels into sandy cliffs located near riverbanks. These colonies can contain several hundred individuals. The bee-eaters use the same tunnels for several generations. Bee-eaters are skillful flyers able to drink while skimming over water and adept at catching their food on the fly.