BERKELDER R VAN DER SPEK V, LAPONDER D, DUINDAM J & VAN SCHIE T (2006) Breeding Bee-eaters Merops apiaster at Monster, Netherlands, in 2005. LIMOSA 79 (4): 155-162.

In late May 2005 a small colony of three pairs of Bee-eater Merops apiaster was found in coastal dunes near Monster, just southwest of The Hague, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands. This was only the sixth successful breeding attempt, and the fifth successful one, of Bee-eater in the Netherlands since 1964. The breeding area is a flat coastal dune area with scattered bushes. The breeding site was a drinking-water reservoir which was being enlarged, for which it was temporarily emptied, exposing steep banks. The Bee-eater colony was observed daily during 250 hours. Disturbance was avoided by keeping at a distance of at least 50 m. The breeding locality is not open to the public, but was still intruded by birders who had heard about it, despite information about this breeding case being suppressed.
      The birds dug nest holes at the north-eastern side of the reservoir, exposing them to the south-west. After several copulations in the first half of June breeding started in two nests on 8 (two nests) and 18 June (third nest). First eggs hatched after 30 days; a month later c. 11 young fledged between 9 and 13 August. Initially the young were fed with small prey items such as bees and wasps, later on larger prey such as bumblebees and dragonflies were brought to the nests. Feeding frequency was irregular, with long breaks after intense feeding. Prey delivery and feeding in the nest hole initially took around a minute. With the growth of the young prey was delivered in a very short time, while adults left the nest backwards not being able to turn around in the nest hole. To stimulate fledging, adults tempted their full-grown young by feigned feeding, keeping prey in front of the nest and by uttering contact calls.
      Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus, even those flying high, were considered dangerous predators, while corvids were attacked in the period with small young in the nests. Other birds of prey were not reacted upon, but a sharp notice was being kept of Goshawk A. gentilis and Hobby Falco subbuteo. In such cases some alarm calls were heard, deviating from their normal contact calls.

[pdf only for members] [dutch summary]