Honeyguides and honey hunters
Honeyguides are a distinctive family of birds which occur in Africa and tropical Asia. We know very little about the biology of most species, but two unusual characteristics are probably shared by all honeyguides: the ability to digest wax, and the habit of brood parasitism (laying their eggs in the nests of other birds). One African honeyguide is famous for its habit of guiding people to active nests of wild bees. This gives the humans access to honey, while the honeyguide can obtain beeswax. Recent research is providing new insights into this interaction, which involves learning by both parties, but there are enduring myths and misinformation about the guiding behaviour of these birds.
Organizer
Adrian Craig is a retired professor of zoology, who spent his working career lecturing at Rhodes University in South Africa. He has also given many talks to school groups and other audiences. His research has always focused on African birds, involving field studies, museum specimens, and historical records. Apart from formal scientific publications, Adrian has written many popular articles for birdclub magazines, and contributed to handbooks such as “The birds of Africa” and “Handbook of the birds of the world”.