The European bee-eater nesting site in Bizeljsko
One of the most beautifully coloured birds living in Slovenia, the European bee-eater (Merops apiaster), nests in an abandoned quartz sand mine in Župjek near Bizeljsko. It nests in colonies and Župjek has the oldest continuous colony of European bee-eaters, with around 30 nesting pairs.
The European bee-eater is a migratory bird that starts returning from wintering in late April or the first days of May, and by the end of July it starts moving towards tropical Africa. It builds its nest in a passage of a vertical sandy wall – almost 1 meter deep.
Due to the lack of suitable nesting walls and food, the European bee-eater is highly endangered and therefore protected in Slovenia and throughout the EU.
The best time for spotting them is the beginning of June, when breeding is almost finished and adult birds often fly to and from their homes, and sometimes the young birds can be seen waiting right by the entrance.
The birds are observed from a wooden observation box, as human presence near the nesting site must not disturb the nesting and feeding of the young birds.
For photographers
Since the bird is highly attractive, a small photo-observatory has been set up in the sand mine. To use it, please contact the Kozjansko Park Supervisory Service at +386 41 381 560 for all the necessary information.
Map
Explore other natural attractions in Kozjansko Regional Park:
Gruska, which lies just off the main Kozje–Buče road, is a distinctly noticeable pocket valley, starting with a 30-metre-high overhanging wall. In the wall, there is the source of the Gruska stream, which turns into a beautiful waterfall during heavy rains.
At Gradišče above Podsreda (3.3km from Podsreda) is the Kozjansko Park’s tall-stemmed orchard, where more than 120 varieties of apple and more than 60 varieties of pear are planted.
The Vetrnik area is dotted with beautiful, colourful dry grasslands, which are remarkable for their wealth of flora and fauna.
Between Podsreda and Bistrica ob Sotli, the Bistrica River has created a beautiful gorge, which is considered to be the most picturesque and well-preserved river gorge in eastern Slovenia.
The Lurška Cave is a large sinkhole in sandstone of Miocene age (about 20 million years old), up to 38m wide and 17m high, now heavily overgrown with moss and ivy.
The spring is located in the lithothamnion limestone, in the solitary karst of the Kozjansko Park. Karst springs are characterised by high fluctuations in flow and occasional turbidity at high water.
These are caves, dug into quartz sand that was brought to the Bizeljsko area millions of years ago by the Pannonian Sea. The sand holes belong to the indigenous natural, historical, ethnological, and cultural heritage of the area and are an attraction along the Bizeljsko–Sremič wine tourist road.
In the steep wooded hillside above the left bank of the Bistrica River in Pilštanj, a picturesque rock called Ajdovska žena was formed in dolomite. It is 12m high (7m on the sloping side) and 2m wide.
One of the most beautifully coloured birds living in Slovenia, the European bee-eater (Merops apiaster), nests in an abandoned quartz sand mine in Župjek near Bizeljsko. It nests in colonies and Župjek has the oldest continuous colony of European bee-eaters, with around 30 nesting pairs.