We conducted this study from April to October 2000–2002 on Kinmen Island (118u8–
219 E, 24u22–349 N, 13,425 ha). Through interviews with residents and intensive surveys at
the beginning of each breeding season, we identified 21 bee-eater colonies that were active
during at least one of the study years (Figure 1). We also located two abandoned colonies
(G and H) that had last been active in 1998. For each site we recorded the colony location,
the number of bee-eaters, and the number of active nest cavities. The number of bee-eaters
at each colony in 2002 was estimated by counting the number of individuals perched on or
near the colony on several days and represents a conservative estimate. We compared the
distribution of active 2002 colony sites among the major habitat types as well as the three
main soil types of Kinmen Island: clay loam (20%), sandy clay loam (,2%), and sandy
loam (78%) (Kuo and Chen 2002).