Why do some barbets gather at fruiting trees?

Barbets gather at fruiting trees primarily to feed, as fruit and berries are key components of their diet.12

Beyond simply satisfying their own nutritional needs, this behavior plays an important ecological role. As these birds consume fruit, they act as seed dispersers for various tropical trees; the seeds pass through their bodies and are deposited at distances away from the parent tree, which aids in forest regeneration. While this feeding habit is beneficial to the ecosystem, it can occasionally lead to conflict with humans when barbets consume cultivated fruit near villages and towns.3