The zoom launch of my book is looming. So a reminder for Thursday 22nd of February at 7 pm UK time. There will be an interview with me, a slide show of some photos, readings, followed by questions that I will try and answer. It would be lovely to see you if time and time zone allows.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/navaselva-an-evening-with-georgina-wright-tickets-804907218157
A bee-eater was chosen for the cover of my book as Abe Mero, a European bee-eater is one of the main wild characters who leaves the sanctuary of Navaselva, the wild but safe valley with the aim of helping a queen bumble bee get to a cooler climate. Co-operation and co-existence are key themes and crucial to not only their survival but ours too.
My novel explores through fiction many aspects of the places and species of Western Europe, the challenges faced, and the links through migration to Africa. The human narrative links to this too and helps us understand more about our need for better relationships with each other and the natural world. This book was inspired by living here and writing my blog about nature.
Here are some of the European bee-eaters seen outside our house in September. As I describe in my novel. This is the time many flock together again, young and old together. They need to refuel before the long journey across the Sahara to places in Africa where there will be a different cycle of insects and bees available.
Note for bee lovers and the bee crisis. For thousands of years these birds and bees have been interdependent within balanced ecosystems. Many bees come to the natural end of their life at the end of the summer season. This links well with the European bee-eaters journey back to Africa. A decline in bee population may help the remaining bees when flower sources are also scarce. More knowledge about interdependence is needed but certainly stopping key insecticides and creating wider ranges of safer unpolluted habitats helps restore complex ecosystems.
There are many other types of African bee-eater with different blends of colours and size. Some of these may be resident or just migrate shorter distances.
All bee/eaters will eat a variety of insects but are especially adapted to eating bees. These birds have developed a technique of avoiding the sting. All the different species have evolved a distinctive but different rainbow display of colours. Perhaps suited to tropical climes and the summer in the Mediterranean with the background of bright blue skies. However, there are a few bee-eaters reaching the UK and a pair have returned twice now to Norfolk where there colours are quite bright.
Thanks to I J Khanewala and their Bird of the Week you can also see two varieties of Indian, sub continent bee-eaters.
Do take a look.
Hope to see you the book launch. If not the book is available from different online sources and as ever Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Navaselva-Call-Valley-Georgina-Wright/dp/1914199529