European bee-eaters are increasingly recorded in the UK as climate change expands their range northward. Managing their welfare as a new colonist requires careful planning.
Bee-eater welfare at attempted UK nest sites has been compromised by intense birder and media interest leading to prolonged disturbance near nest burrows. Adult birds repeatedly flushed from nest entries deplete energy reserves and may ultimately abandon. Managing public access around potential nest sites, establishing exclusion zones, and working with raptor protection networks that have experience managing sensitive nest sites would allow bee-eaters to breed successfully if they establish again.