On the night of 22nd October 2010, a migratory Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus) ended up in a ship at anchorage near Bedok, Singapore. It found comfort in a small potted plant placed on top of a TV set (above). There it rested. The bird probably got disorientated by the thick haze from forest fires in Indonesia, the worst in four years.
According to Opel Mok, the bee-eater looked a little dazed and allowed itself to be handled (left). But it was not injured.
Blue-tailed bee-eaters are common passage migrants and winter visitors to Singapore. They arrive in great numbers towards the end of September.
Opel Mok
Singapore
October 2010
Tou Jing Yi
They may be merely exhausted, and is fed and recovered, should be able to continue on their journey.
John Lee
I found a Blue Tailed Bee Eater by the roadside near my place yesterday evening. It couldn’t fly and was a bit confused. So I put a towel over it and took it home. Attempts to contact the wildlife dept. and the vets have failed as it is the weekend. I have caught some bees, flies for it but it is not feeding. I have even given it some small live frys but it doesn’t seem to be wanting to eat or drink. Concern that it may have a bad wing fracture or possibly concussed and there was a heavy rain prior to me finding it. Could anyone advise?
YC
It is not easy to care for a young bee-eater – not sure how young yours is. But try feeding it mealworms rather than bees. Check out this link… http://besgroup.talfrynature.com/2009/07/22/blue-throated-bee-eater-8-excavating-two-further-nests/#more and the related series.
John Lee
Hi YC
Thanks for your reply. It looks like a full grown adult. Unfortunately, it didn’t make it through Sunday. I was hoping to deliver it to the local Wildlife Dept today.
Haniman
Out of curiosity John, were you refering to the Malaysian Wildlife Dept?