Did you know that there is a bird that can guide humans to the locations of wild bee nests in the forests? This bird is called the honeyguide or the honey indicator, and it belongs to the family of honeyguides that includes 17 species of tropical birds in Africa and Asia. This bird has the ability to digest beeswax, and therefore it cooperates with humans to get this favorite food of theirs. But this bird is rare and getting rarer due to deforestation, poaching, and competition with other birds. In this article, we will review what the honeyguide is and how it works, and what are its benefits and threats.
▪What is the honeyguide and how does it work?
The honeyguide is a small bird, ranging from 10 to 20 centimeters in length, and characterized by its brown, yellow, or black color, and the presence of white feathers on its tail. It belongs to the family of honeyguides, which includes 17 species of tropical birds in Africa and Asia. The honeyguide lives in forests, savannas, and semi-desert areas, and feeds on beeswax, larvae, insects, and fruits.
The honeyguide has a unique ability to communicate with humans, by guiding them to the locations of wild bee nests in the forests. It does this by emitting distinctive sounds, resembling whistles or hums, that attract the attention of humans, and by flying over their heads and stopping on trees, indicating the direction of the nest. When the humans reach the nest, usually hidden in the branches or hollows of a tree, they open it and take the honey from it, and leave some wax for the bird, which loves it very much. In this way, the bird gets its favorite food, and the humans get a natural and rich source of honey.
▪Why is the honeyguide getting rarer?
The honeyguide is a rare bird and faces many threats that reduce its number and distribution. Among these threats are:
- Deforestation and habitat loss: where trees are cut and plants are burned for agriculture or construction or firewood, which reduces the area of forests where the bird and the bees live, and affects the balance of the ecosystem.
- Poaching and illegal trade: where the bird is hunted and sold as a pet or food or medicine, or killed by accident or on purpose by some humans who consider it harmful or annoying.
- Competition with other birds: where the bird competes with some predatory or greedy birds for wax, insects, or fruits, or is attacked or robbed by them.
▪Conclusion
The honeyguide is an amazing and useful bird, that has a unique and mutual relationship with humans, helping them find honey, and getting wax from them. But this bird is endangered by deforestation, poaching, and competition with other birds. We must protect this bird and preserve its habitats and respect its cooperation with us, as it is an integral part of the wildlife and cultural life in Africa and Asia.
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