Breeding ecology of European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) in Kohgilouyeh city

In the spring of 2019, breeding performance and nest characteristics of 20 European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) active nests in a 500-hectare forest area in the Charosa area in Kohgiluyeh city were studied. The average vertical and horizontal diameter of the nest entrance was 61.88±10.90 and 61.75±14.97 mm respectively. The average vertical and horizontal depth of the hole was 30.30±4.31 and 77.65±22.81 mm. The average area of the nests was 30.745±9.861 cm2, and the volume of the nests was 3290.61±1101.82 cm3. The average slope of the nests was 63.6±27.61 degrees. Most of the birds laid their eggs in the second week of May that clutch sizes were between four and seven (mean: 5.9±0.77). The incu bation period varied from 16 to 20 days (mean: 17.95±1.19 days) and the duration of the nest ling period varied from 21 to 24 days (mean: 24±0.71 days). More than 80% of the chicks left the nests in the last days of June. The number of fledglings was 6.0±0.65 in successful nests and 5.70±1.45 in all nests. The overall duration of breeding was 55.21±1.15 days, and the per centage of successful nests (at least one fledged young) was 95%.