Yi Cao, My Best&Last Feed So You Come Out Next (ANIMALS 2025)

I have been diligently observing Rainbow Bee-eaters' behaviour in Huntly Streamside Reserve of Victoria, ever since some arrived from Queensland last summer. I found that the most touching moment was not about Rainbow Bee-eater mating, or catching insects, or going in and out of their nesting tunnel on the ground, it was the moment when baby bee-eaters stretch their head out from inside-of-tunnel to get food, especially reaching further out at tunnel entrance. Adult Bee-eaters deliberately stopped delivering food into the nesting tunnel, so to train baby Bee-eaters' ability get out gradually so to survive an independent life.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.