Bee-tern (SciiFii)

The bee-tern (Mimerops fasciatus), also known as the New Zealand bee-eater, is a species of Tern (Sterninae) that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the wetlands, forests, and open woodlands across New Zealand to help boost biodiversity. The bee-tern is unlike any other known tern species, having a distinctive deep green feathers with a light green breast, a deep red beak, and, in males, two, long, blue-colored pin tail feathers. The bee-tern has a distinctive alarm, a high-pitched "kee-yah", also used as a warning to intruders, and a shorter "kyar", given as an individual takes flight in response to a more serious threat. The bee-tern is one of the smallest of the terns, with the weight body ranging from 44 to 66 grams and the length body is usually between 24 to 27 centimetres. As its name suggests, the bee-tern predominantly eats flying insects, especially bees and wasps, which are caught on the wing from an open perch. The insect's stinger is removed by repeatedly hitting and rubbing the insect on a hard surface. During this process, pressure is applied to the insect's body, thereby discharging most of the venom. Bee-terns are diurnal and gregarious. They form colonies, nesting in burrows tunnelled into vertical sandy banks, often at the side of a river or in flat ground. As they mostly live in colonies, large numbers of nest holes may be seen together. The eggs are white, with typically five to the clutch. Bee-terns are monogamous, and both parents care for their young, sometimes with assistance from related birds in the colony. The conservation status of the bee-tern is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the bee-tern's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.