Thousands of blue-tailed bee-eaters recently settled down on a hillside in Raoping County of Chaozhou City, south China's Guangdong Province.

The tropical migratory bird usually inhabits Southeast Asia and is renowned for its beautiful feathers. According to Chen Zehuang, a local forestry department staff member, the bird has high standards for nesting environments. The nest must be built where it can receive enough warmth from sunlight and in a quiet area. 

During the past years, dozens of blue-tailed bee-eaters have arrived in Raoping County every April to June. This year, however, the number is in the thousands. The local forestry department has already set up warning signs and increased the patrolling intensity to protect the resting area of the birds.

(Cover image via VCG)

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