Unreleased video shows native bees cleaning the nostrils of a mountain eagle in MG

Unreleased video shows native bees cleaning a mountain eagle's nostril in MG A rare interaction between native bees and a bird of prey was recorded in Delfinópolis (MG). Ecotourism visitor driver Amauri Henrique de Lima caught the insects entering the nostril of a mountain eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus). The record, made in photos and video during a walk with friends, drew attention for its details and for documenting a relationship that is still little known to science. ? Follow Terra da Gente also on Instagram "I was with three friends when I observed the mountain eagle perched on a branch, it was a low tree. We stopped to observe and photograph and at first I even thought that they were flies that were around it. And when I picked up the camera to record it I realized that they were native bees. They were entering the bird's nostrils, and at the time I remembered a report I saw about this relationship between bees and the harpy and then I researched more about this behavior, which is very interesting”, comments Amauri. Unreleased video shows native bees cleaning the nostrils of a mountain eagle in MG Amauri Henrique de Lima See more news from Terra da Gente, on g1: ENVIRONMENT: Mamirauá Reserve turns 30 and consolidates conservation model PROTECTION: Tambaqui is 'smaller and rarer'; understand what put it on the endangered species list NEW BEHAVIOR? Merganser uses termite mound as a nest in Serra da Canastra in an unprecedented record for science Unprecedented interaction When researching the subject, Amauri discovered that there were still no shared records of this interaction between native bees and the mountain eagle. It was then that he realized that he could have created an unprecedented documentation of behavior in nature. “When I saw that there were no records of this relationship between native bees and the mountain eagle, I found it very interesting, it was a cool moment, we watched the bird for about 10 minutes, it was very calm”, he adds when sharing and celebrating the incident. Unpublished video shows native bees cleaning the nostrils of a mountain eagle in MG Amauri Henrique de Lima According to ornithologist Luciano Lima, the hypothesis is that this relationship is a case of facultative mutualism. "It's a partnership in which both sides win, but neither depends on the other to live. On the bees' side, the interest is the nasal mucus, which is a source of proteins and minerals. On the bird's side, the benefit is that, by removing accumulated secretions, the bees help to keep the nostrils unobstructed", he explains. Watching small bees enter the nostrils of an imposing bird can cause some distress. What seems uncomfortable to human eyes, however, does not necessarily correspond to the sensation experienced by the bird. “As far as we know, there is no record of harm caused by this action by bees to the bird, although a scientific article describes that some birds may feel uncomfortable to the point of trying to scare away the bees, others reveal the opposite, such as the case of a harpy that was in captivity in Germany, where there are no stingless bees, which arrived in Brazil breathing with its beak open, with blocked nostrils, and about a month later, already receiving a visit from bees, returned to breathe normally”, says the biologist. Luciano adds that, among the best-known scientific articles on the interaction of native bees with birds of prey, the majority feature the harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja). Much of the reports were also made from observations of individuals living in captivity. In controlled environments, these birds, considered difficult to observe in the wild, can be monitored closely, which makes it easier to identify interactions with small insects. "This record made by Amauri is a valuable document with the potential to even become a scientific note. As far as I know, there is no record of this interaction with the mountain eagle, the known list includes harpy eagle, false uiraçu, duck hawk, feathered hawk, carijó hawk and some owls, but not it. Interestingly, there was already a record with the white-tailed hawk, a close relative of the mountain eagle”, he points out. Rare record Amauri Henrique de Lima Rarity For the biologist, the images can be considered rare, but this does not necessarily mean that the behavior is unusual in nature. The rarity lies mainly in the opportunity to observe and document interaction in a natural environment. "It is certainly a very rare record, but the behavior perhaps cannot be considered unusual. We are talking about a very small insect interacting for a short time with birds that are generally very skittish. In other words, the chances of someone seeing and understanding what they are seeing and even photographing or filming it are tiny. It is no coincidence that the scientific literature on the subject is very small", he states. There are also older reports from indigenous people, such as the Enawene-Nawe, from the Mato Grosso region, about this type of relationship between bees and harpies. “I believe that the behavior is much more widespread than the few records suggest, and may even involve other groups of birds, in addition to raptors”, he adds. Amauri was unable to identify which species of native bee was cleaning the mountain eagle's nose. These insects, however, are known for exploiting unusual sources of nutrients. Some species can feed on carrion, tears from mammals, birds and reptiles and even human sweat. 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