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Birding in Uganda
Uganda isn't just a birder's paradise, its one of the richest countries in the world in terms of birds. Uganda has more than 1000 different birds, this is half the total species recorded in Africa- and more being discovered every day.
The East African nation is the place to go to see the majestic Crowned Crane. With its golden crown it rightly rests opposite the Uganda kob on the coat of arms- the evil eyed shoebill and all manner of kingfishers, herons, eagles and storks, including the obviously Ugandan saddle billed stork, whose beak is the same colour as the Uganda flag (red, black and yellow).
The best place to view the birds of Uganda is from a boat on one of the country's picturesque lakes or waterways.
Birding on the Victoria Nile.
After the world's longest river has shrunk to seven metres then catapulted over the 45m drop of Murchison falls, it calms into a slow moving channel where Nile crocodiles bask in the sun, hippos grunt in big schools and hundreds of birds (there are an estimated 450 species in the Murchison falls conservation area) flitter about on the lush banks.
All manner of birds hunt from the papyrus reeds, stalk about in the elephant grass and sit high up in the branches of the forest watching the tourists chug by on aluminum launches.
Once the initial excitement of watching Uganda's wildlife like hippos, elephants, crocs and water buffalo passes, the birders on board turn their eyes to the sky. The first sighting of the day is a regal African fish eagle. The large fish eating raptor with a white head and neck that flows into its bold, bronze chest is one of the most common birds you see in Uganda.
They frequent most water bodies whether fresh, alkaline or salt and are supposedly most numerous on Lake Victoria. Recognisable by their pleasant high pitched trill, which when combined with a mate forms a sweet duet sung across vast lakes, you often hear them before you see them. They are big on family so it's not uncommon to see a pair protectively perched over a nest.
Sitting precariously on something in the water ahead is the African Darter, a black bird with a long, thin neck and pointed bill known as the ‘snake bird' because of its reptilian movements when hunting. Once it spears a fish with its needle-beak, it flips the prey in the air, catches it then swallows it headfirst.
The saddle billed stork, one of the most beautiful birds in Africa and a Ugandan treasure appears next on the bank. It could be nicknamed the Ugandan flag billed stork with its red and black banded bill fronted by a yellow shield combining the national colours. With its beautiful black and white coat it almost looks fit for a gala ball. Along a sandstone wall dozens of tiny little birds flitter in and out of holes they call home.
Starlings, bee-eaters and kingfishers compete for attention but its one particular type of kingfisher the birders want to see: the elusive Giant kingfisher. Uganda is home to the most beautiful species of kingfishers; the ash-grey chested, bright blue backed woodland kingfisher and the dazzling malachite frequent fresh water shorelines.
The brown and black giant kingfisher is deemed such an important sighting though it's not much to look at, aside from being the largest of the kingfisher species. Its first sighting generates a lot of excitement amongst the birders and for some this is the highlight of the day.
Before the launch arrives back at base a goliath heron is spotted. At an average of 1.3m tall, this mostly grey heron takes out the title of largest in the world.
Game Drive in Murchison falls national park
During a game drive through the surrounding Murchison falls national park; Uganda's largest protected area at 5072sqkm –attention is turned to the shoebill. This stocky silver-grey bird with its evil yellow eye is as close as a bird gets to celebrity. It is known to frequent the delta where the Victoria Nile flows into the Albert. Some local fishermen believe this strange looking bird with its big flat- hooked bill is a bad omen.
The Kazinga Channel and Queen Elizabeth national park
In central western Uganda, the 40km Kazinga Channel, which joins Lake Edward with Lake George, is absolutely brimming with bird life. It's not surprising to learn the channel falls within one of the world's most bird rich parks.
Queen Elizabeth national park hosts 612 bird species-the second highest of any conservation area in Africa and the sixth most populous in the world. This could have something to do with the fact that fishing is prohibited in the channel and lakes.
During a launch ride up down the channel the bird-spotting never ends. Pied Kingfishers whiz past the boat, Yellow Billed Stork hunt in the shallow shoreline and in the distance a colony of Pink-backed Pelicans take flight. Countless hadada ibis dot the shore. In some parts of Uganda, the bird's call is said to silence crying babies.
While some societies see the Hamerkop as an ill omen, others call it the "king of birds". Its empire stretches across East Africa where its throne can often be seen high up in trees. Squadrons of cormorants skim over the water like jet fighters returning to base as the launch slides back to shore. Black bellied bustard, long crested eagle, spur-winged plover, fish eagle can all be spotted.
Lake Mburo national park
At Lake Mburo, the only national park in Uganda where you'll find the impala and zebra, you will be truly captivated by birds like white backed night herons which are usually hard to see because they make their home within the protective gauze of thick reeds. With beautiful, big, black eyes that help them see at night, they are two of the most exquisitely beautiful birds.
Mburo is also the only place you will find the African finfoot, a small duck like bird with a red beak and red webbed feet. The lake is home to over 300 bird species including an estimated 200 mating pairs of fish eagles, which according to guides is more than Lake Victoria.
The last stop on a Uganda birding safari is suitably named Lake Bunyonyi- meaning "the place of many little birds". In the lush lily-coated waters of Nyombe swamp you see African jacana hopping about on pads, pied kingfishers hovering like helicopters before making a sharp bomb into the water for breakfast and yellow billed ducks quaking and whistling amongst themselves.
About the Author
Jean Ankunda is a free lance writer with Abacus African Vacations, specialists in Uganda safaris, gorilla safaris and wildlife tours. More of her articles can be found on Uganda safari blog.
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