Bee-Eaters are a fascinating group of birds, and as the name suggests, their primary diet consists of bees and other insects, most often taken on the wing. I observed this Blue-Cheeked Bee-Eater in Kenya in 2014, along the shores of lake Baringo. Wild bees are plentiful around this large water source, and honey-harvesting is a common livelihood amongst the local communities. Of course, where there are bees in Africa, you will likely find Bee-Eaters. I saw large groups of several different species during my few days on Lake Baringo, and I became more than fond of their bright colors and interesting behavior.

While the color of the bird is certainly far from subdued, my primary interest in this study was not the color palette, but rather the shapes and lines. I enjoyed the contrast between the Bee-Eaters plump, round body, razor-like flight and tail feathers, and the elegant, curvilinear tracery of branches on which it is poised.