Green Bee-eater [Merops orientalis] photographed in Bhuleshwar

Green Bee-eaters [Scientifically called merops orientalis] are locally called Veda Raghu in Maharashtra state. They have named it right. If I'm not wrong, the meaning of Veda Raghu is Mad Bird. The bird sits at a place, then flies here-n-there, up-n-down, then sits back at the same place. It does this several times before changing the place of sitting. This act looks like madness. But there is a reason why this bird does this act. We cannot always see, but this bird with complete control over its flight, catches the insects flying in the air. So when the Green Bee-eater goes up-n-down, flies madly as if it doesn't know where it wants to go, it actually is following an insect. It's like watching a cheetah catch its prey.



Isn't finding such amazing information really awesome? Well, but if you see from an insect's point of view, the Green Bee-eater is a beast! Imagine a predator 10 storey high chasing you for its quick breakfast. Now that's terrible. But none-the-less, just because we are humans, let's enjoy the colorful bird that I managed to photograph in the beautiful surroundings of Bhuleshwar temple.