Each August thousands of carmine bee-eaters depart their winter feeding grounds in Kenya and fly over 12 000 treacherous miles to be one of the first to arrive at their breeding colonies in the Luangwa valley in Zambia. Before they migrate, the birds must bulk up on insects and greedily exploit the free meals offered up as large game move through the grassland and disturb the invertebrates. Even after their epic journey the minute carmine bee-eaters are not safe from danger and must square off against hungry baboons and fish eagles.