Come Bird- Watching in Uganda

Given its comprehensively small size, Uganda is agraduably the richest African birding destination. Located almost at the center of the continent, Uganda attracts migrant from the north and the south anfdhas mor eindigenous birds than many of her neighbours.

No other country can match the amazing diversity of habitants particularly its wetlands and this richness is reflected in the ever increasing bird list which currently runs to more than 1000 species, from great eagles to tiny iridescent sunbirds. Flamingos gather on the smaller lakes, which abound with kingfishers, bee-eaters and fish eagles. The plains and scrubland are home to an exceptional variety of bird life. Bwindi forest reserve, Kibale forest national park, lake Mburo national park, Murchison falls national park and Queen Elizabeth game park are growing popularity among bird-watchers.

Among the many important species of avid are the shoebill stork/> , the white crested turaco, the Rwenzori torcao, the kivu ground thrush, shelly’s crimson wing and the Rwenzori battis.

As part of the programme to improved facilities for bird-watchers, the Uganda Wildlife Authority has developed a number of new hides and strategic sites and there has been a new survey of Ugandan birds, which has resulted in the publication of ‘where to watch birds in Uganda.’

Using the criteria developed by Bird Life International to identify Important Bird Areas, 30 sites qualified for recognition as important Bird Areas in Uganda. The full list of sites and the criteria for their selection can be found in the published book (Byaruhanga et al 2001). Uganda also has a list of 207 “Birds to watch” in the Red Data List for East Africa (Bennun and Njoroge, 1996).

The bird sites were identified and defined on the basis of both the number of bird species and the census figures of each. Some sites are exceptionally important for maintaining a very large number of other taxa dependent upon the habitats and ecosystems they contain.

All the ten National parks in Uganda qualified as IBAs together with three Wildlife Reserves and 7 National Forest Reserves.

A boat ride ride in Mabamba is always the first activity that most birders who come to Uganda enjoy while searching for th Shoebill in its natural habitat
Mabamba wetland

There are also 10 IBA's that are not protected; These are some of the exceptional bird watching sites in the country. They include, among others, Mabamba and Lutembe Bays as well as the Lake Kyoga sites such as Lakes Opeta and Bisina. These are also complemented by public privately owned Leisure parks, gardens, fish ponds, woodlands and forests, which together make Uganda best described as a haven for bird watching.

Kiiza Kalamantu Calah